The first reporting of this incident described two deputies shooting a man at the Fas Fuel gas station on Halsted and N Main.
It was nearly 11 a.m on October 24th, 2018, a Wednesday, in the fall when a car pulled into the gas station. Winnebago county sheriff’s deputies allegedly knew the passenger was a man wanted for narcotics charges. The initial reporting said it was then deputies exited their vehicle. At that point the passenger shot, missing everyone and everything.
Two deputies then shot up the car.
This was categorized as an “exchange of fire” and it was not disclosed the total amount of bullets shot by either party.
In the next round of information to be released the name of the victim, Wainer Sousa Ancheta was made public. It was also revealed that this was not an accidental incident. Winnebago county sheriff’s deputies knew Ancheta had a narcotics warrant, knew who he was, and knew he was the passenger in this white sedan because deputies had followed the car to the gas station.
It was then clarified that Ancheta fired one shot, missing everything, first. The five deputies there all fired their guns into the vehicle, shooting Ancheta several times. The five deputies who
each fired their gun were not named in the release.
The next release of information was the name of sheriffs:
Jake Marino
Fred Jones
Charles Grasley
Braid Kaizer
Stan Metzler
Following the shooting, all five were placed on paid administrative leave.
After the shooting the case was turned over to the Integrity Task Force, this time being led by the Rockford police department.
In reporting from Chris Green of Rockford Register Star from the trial it is revealed that sheriff’s deputies began to follow Ancheta at a Machesney Park residence all the way to the fas fuel. They did so in an unmarked, dark colored Yukon.
Further context of the life of Wainer Sousa Ancheta was revealed during the trial by his lawyer, Elder Granger. Less than a week before October 24, two separate relatives of Ancheta had their houses shot up. October 22nd Ancheta was shot in the leg.
There was an active and very real threat to Ancheta's life and the lives of his loved ones.
Jake Marino in his testimony during the trial stated there was not enough time to put on his vest that identified him as a police officer. Marino was wearing jeans and a dark hoodie.
Marino, with no marks identifying him as a police officer, was the first to exit his vehicle. He already had his gun in hand when he got out. It was immediately pointed at Ancheta.
Marino alleged in the three seconds from exiting the vehicle to bullets shooting from his gun, he shouted "police!". In those three seconds, he saw Ancheta also begin to raise a gun. Once Marino opened fire, bullets came from every direction into the vehicle. No reports stated the exact amount of shots fired, only that Ancheta was shot several times.
With the justified ruling, they also charged Ancheta with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, being an armed habitual criminal and possession of a controlled substance.
A jury found Ancheta guilty of being an armed habitual criminal and possession of a controlled substance but not guilty on the attempted first-degree murder and discharge of a firearm charges.
This was the fifteenth case investigated and justified by the Winnebago Boone County Integrity Task Force and 17th deadly force incident in the 2010’s.
It was the fourth deadly force incident with Tom McNamara in mayoral office.