Man charged with 2022 murder of victim who was lured into Facebook gun sale trap
A Deadly Trap Unveiled: Chicago Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Facebook Gun Deal Gone Wrong
A shocking turn of events has led to the arrest of a 22-year-old man on charges of first-degree murder in connection with a tragic killing that unfolded in 2022. Prosecutors revealed that the victim, Irving Ibarez, fell victim to a deadly trap disguised as a Facebook gun deal.
The suspect, Ener Rodriguez, was brought before Cook County Judge James Murphy III, where he was ordered to be detained. Rodriguez becomes the third individual to face charges in the murder of 18-year-old Ibarez on August 1, 2022, in the Galewood neighborhood on Chicago’s Northwest Side.
Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Rauch disclosed that the scheme was orchestrated by Daniel Barbosa, who, at 16 years old and already facing pretrial release for two juvenile gun cases, used Facebook to lure Ibarez into a $400 gun purchase, even offering free bullets as an enticement. Ibarez was instructed to meet Barbosa at the intersection of Natchez and Dickens at 7 p.m. to finalize the transaction.
Unbeknownst to Ibarez, this was all part of a setup. Barbosa, along with Rodriguez and another accomplice, Alexsandro Hernandez, planned to rob Ibarez at the designated meeting spot. Hernandez, who was 18 at the time, was out on bail for an adult gun case.
Surveillance footage captured Barbosa entering Ibarez’s car at the location. Moments later, a white Nissan Murano pulled up next to them, with Rodriguez behind the wheel. Hernandez, armed with a gun, approached Ibarez’s vehicle, causing Ibarez to reverse. In a panic, Barbosa shot Ibarez in the chest, leading to his untimely death.
Following the fatal shooting, Barbosa and Hernandez swiftly fled to the Murano, driven by Rodriguez, making a hasty escape from the scene. Chicago police meticulously reconstructed the events leading up to the tragedy using surveillance footage, which depicted the group’s movements before and after the incident.
Hernandez, in a shocking revelation, confessed to authorities about possessing multiple firearms in the Murano and brandishing one during the unsuccessful robbery. He later disposed of the weapon in a nearby lake, according to prosecutors.
Rodriguez’s involvement in the murder came to light after his initial arrest on September 7, 2022, for aggravated fleeing and eluding. Despite pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the incident, it was only recently that he was formally charged with the murder. Detectives seized Rodriguez’s phone during his arrest, revealing crucial location data that linked him to the crime scene and other vital areas connected to the case.
