ROCHELLE — Rochelle Police Department officials have released the name of the person who died from a gunshot wound late Friday night.
John M. Garza, 28, of Rochelle, was found dead by officers on Jan. 11 at around midnight in an apartment in the 300 block of South Main Street.
The Ogle County Sheriff’s 911 center took a call late Friday night in reference to a subject with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Rochelle at 300 South Main St. #4. Rochelle fire and police personnel were dispatched.

Upon arrival, Garza was located in the living room, with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Rochelle police detectives, the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit and the Ogle County Coroner were called to the scene.
Witnesses on scene advised officers that the Garza had been playing with a handgun just prior to hearing a gunshot and finding him gravely injured in the living room.
During the course of the investigation, it was learned that several subjects had fled the scene. The firearm used in the shooting could not be located and it was believed that one of the subjects who left the scene had taken the gun.
Ogle County Sheriff’s detectives were called to assist in locating the missing witnesses, and a department drone was used to check the surrounding rooftops for the missing firearm.
Detectives were later able to locate the individuals who had been in the apartment at the time of the shooting and take statements from them. Detectives spoke to one of the witnesses who took them to the alleged firearm that was discharged. The gun was recovered and will be sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for processing. An autopsy on Garza is expected to be held today.
No charges have been filed at this time, but the investigation into the incident remains open and is ongoing.