Rockford street gang member sentenced to 32 years for Irving Avenue shootings

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Rockford street gang member, Nazeaire Henderson, 20, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison on weapons charges related to a pair of shootings in February 2024.

According to the office of the Winnebago County State’s Attorney, Henderson is a member of the On the North gang and participated in two drive-by shootings that occurred on Irving Avenue.

On February 3rd, 2024, Rockford Police officers were called to the 1100 block of Irving for a shooting after a suspect fired 17 shots at the residence. No one was harmed, but the homeowners said they heard shots and saw glass and drywall debris hit the floor.

Later, on February 18th, Rockford’s gunshot detection system identified 10 rounds fired at that same address. Police were able to use doorbell camera footage from a neighboring residence to identify a silver Jeep Cherokee as the suspect vehicle.

The next day, officers with the Rockford Police Department and deputies from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office used stop sticks to disable that vehicle at the Rockton Tobacco Shop, at 3015 N. Rockton Avenue.

Four people, including Henderson, got out and ran. Several guns were found left in the vehicle, authorities said.

Henderson was apprehended a few days later.

Appearing in Winnebago County Court before Judge Brendan Maher on Monday, Henderson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in prison for unlawful use of a weapon with a machine gun conversion device (also referred to as a “switch” device), and 10 years on two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a street gange member.

In addition to his sentence, Henderson will receive 18 months of supervised release.