ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A man suspected in a 2023 murder, that resulted from a deadly car-to-car shooting in downtown Rockford, was arrested Friday and will be released before his trial.

According to police, Marcus Copeland, Jr., 25, has been charged with First Degree Murder in the killing of Joshua Ewing, 23.

Authorities issued a warrant for Copeland’s arrest on March 12th, 2024. According to court records, he was arrested on Friday, March 22nd.

Illinois abolished the cash bail system in September 2023. Under the rules of the Safety Accountability and Fairness Today (SAFE-T) Act, anyone arrested in Illinois must attend a hearing within 48 hours of their arrest, in which a judge determines if they are a flight risk or a danger to society, and if they should be held in jail until their trial or released without bond.

Copeland appeared for a Pretrial Fairness hearing before Judge Debra Schafer on March 25th.

Court records show that his request for release was granted, despite the prosecutor’s objections. He was given a notice to appear in court for his arraignment on April 24th.

As part of the conditions of his release, Copeland was ordered to submit to a DNA swab.

He is the third person accused of the crime. Michael Blue, 27, and Dezha Manning, 27, have also been named as suspects. They are still being held at the Winnebago County Jail.

Ewing was killed on February 9th, 2023, near the intersection of Chestnut and Winnebago around 10:30 a.m.

The suspects were shooting out of the window of the car toward the victim’s car, police said. The SUV that Blue and Manning were driving was reported stolen out of Chicago, authorities said.

Ewing survived long enough to pilot the car to the intersection of 1st Avenue and Charles Street where he crashed.

Ewing was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead at 11:20 a.m.

According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the cash bail system disproportionately impacts Black and brown communities and other underrepresented or impoverished groups, who can’t afford bond.

The original SAFE-T Act, was introduced by the Illinois Black Caucus as part of a response to the murder of George Floyd.