A mother is facing charges of possessing two guns and obstructing in an investigation where her two sons were charged with the murder of her boyfriend, who was a restaurant owner, in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 11:30 p.m. on February 8 to 41 14 Forty One Fourteen Steaks and Seafood, 2120 North Green Bay Road, for a report of a stabbing.
Police arrived and made contact with Veronica Roque, 37, of Waukegan, who had a stab wound to her leg, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon.
Officers also located an unresponsive victim, later identified as Joshua Kirkwood, 51, of Waukegan, with numerous stab wounds.
Officers performed CPR on Kirkwood until paramedics arrived and took over care, Cannon said.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said paramedics rushed the man to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where he was pronounced dead.
He was the owner of the restaurant and also owned Create Your Own Cheesecake and Cheesesteak in Waukegan.
Cannon said Kirkwood suffered numerous stab wounds, including to his wrist, back and right side.
Police learned from Vista Medical Center East around 20 minutes later that a third person, Iziah T. Gonzalez, 21, of Round Lake, suffered a stab wound and had arrived in the emergency department seeking treatment.
Officers spoke to two employees who were working at the time of the incident.
One of them said that Kirkwood and Roque, who was in a relationship with Kirkwood and a manager at the restaurant, were having a “heated discussion” in Kirkwood’s office, which was typical for them, Cannon said.
The woman’s son, Jordan Roque, 16, of Waukegan, was upstairs and heard the verbal argument between his mother and Kirkwood.
Cannon said Jordan Roque walked downstairs after saying he was going to get his brother, Gonzalez, and kill Kirkwood, according to the witness.
Jordan Roque returned upstairs with Gonzalez and an argument ensued with the three, escalating into a physical fight.
Jordan Roque pulled out a large kitchen knife and stabbed Kirkwood, the witness reported.
Jordan Roque tossed the knife in the kitchen area, Cannon said. The nine-inch knife was covered in blood and found on the kitchen island by police.
Cannon said Gonzalez and Jordan Roque then ran out of the restaurant and across the street.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kailey Hopkins said Veronica Roque told other employees not to talk to the police about what had happened and to lie to them.
She also told the employee to tell police there was no video footage even though there was, Hopkins said.
Veronica Roque was also heard telling witnesses to “go home” as police arrived at the murder scene, Hopkins said.
Officers found no evidence that Kirkwood had any weapons on his person during the incident, Cannon said.
Detectives went to Vista Medical Center East and spoke with Veronica Roque, who initially refused to speak with them or provide her information.
Detectives then spoke with Gonzalez who said that he and his wife had rented out the basement of the restaurant for a gender reveal party.
Gonzalez said his 16-year-old brother had come down to tell him that their mother and Kirkwood were arguing, Cannon said.
Gonzalez reported that the two went upstairs and Kirkwood began saying he would “throw hands” with Gonzalez and his brother and that everyone should leave.
Kirkwood took a step toward Gonzalez and Jordan Roque and Gonzalez grabbed Kirkwood by his shirt and the two began fighting, Gonzalez told investigators.
Gonzalez said he noticed his hand and fingers were injured and saw Jordan Roque drop a knife at the end of the fight, Cannon said.
The two ran out of the restaurant and Gonzalez drove himself — with his family, including Jordan Roque, in the car — to Vista Medical Center East for treatment.
Cannon said Jordan Roque fled on foot after they arrived at the hospital.
Gonzalez suffered a deep laceration to part of his finger that required stitches to re-attach the finger.
Gonzalez also told police that Kirkwood and his mother had been dating for a long time and that Kirkwood was physically abusive toward his mother but that she continued dating him, Cannon said.
Chastain said a search warrant was obtained for a 2011 Ford Explorer, which was registered to Veronica Roque.
Two handguns and numerous unknown pills were located inside the vehicle along with a digital video recorder, suspected to be from the business’ camera system.
Hopkins said one of the guns was loaded and the other was unloaded. Veronica Roque does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card or concealed carry license.
Gonzalez was arrested after being released from the hospital and charged with one count of first-degree murder. Prosecutors filed a petition to detain him pending trial.
Detectives attempted to locate Jordan Roque but were unsuccessful. He later turned himself in to the Waukegan Police Department on February 10.
Jordan Roque has since been charged with one count of first-degree murder. He is charged as an adult and prosecutors filed a petition to detain him.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd argued during the detention hearing for Gonzalez that he was dangerous and he and his brother’s actions led to the death of Kirkwood.
“Detention is the only way to mitigate the significant threat that this defendant poses,” Shepherd said, adding that there were no conditions of release to mitigate the threat.
Attorney Jerald Novak, who is representing Gonzalez, argued that his client is “no risk to the community” and said that Gonzalez is only potentially guilty of putting his hands on Kirkwood.
“The parties that are truly at fault and should be held accountable are everyone except Iziah Gonzalez,” Novak said, adding that his client was truthful when questioned and had nothing to do with the knife.
Lake County Judge Ari Fisz granted the petition to detain Gonzalez pending trial. Gonzalez is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on March 5.
A detention hearing for Jordan Roque, who remains held in custody, has been delayed several times as he works to hire an attorney. He is set to appear in court again on March 4.
Veronica Roque was charged with two counts of obstructing justice and four counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.
An arrest warrant was issued for her on February 14 and she was taken into custody late Friday evening at the Lake County Jail after turning herself in.
Court records show Veronica Roque was also on pre-trial release at the time of her arrest for an aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon case out of Fox Lake that occurred in April 2023.
Prosecutors filed a petition to detain Veronica Roque pending trial and a petition to revoke her pre-trial release. A detention hearing was held on Monday afternoon and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petitions.
A public defender representing Veronica Roque said the charges against her were the result of her “alleged reactions to a very traumatizing, significant and shocking event.”
Veronica Roque remains held in the Lake County Jail and she is scheduled to appear in court again on March 19.