Fourth co-defendant pleads guilty to murder of 18-year-old in 2022 robbery

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Marquzise Alexander, 22, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the murder of Devonte Simmons in 2022. His three co-defendants in the killing have already been convicted.

Simmons, 18, was found shot to death in a driveway on Pleasant Avenue on March 24th, 2022, after Woods, Shon Davis, Kenneth Alexander, and Marquzise Alexander conspired to rob him of his gun, prosecutors said.

Detectives learned that the four co-conspirators picked Simmons up at his home and drove around, with Davis driving and Kenneth Alexander in the front passenger seat.

The shots that killed him were fired from the back seat, where Woods and Marquzise Alexander were sitting.

Prosecutors said that when Simmons resisted the robbery, Woods and Marquzise Alexander shot him and then pushed him out of the car.

Woods and Alexander each pleaded guilty to the murder and will serve sentences of 24 years and 6 months each.

Both Kenneth Alexander and Davis were convicted of Armed Robbery and sentenced to 30 years.