Aurora Police have arrested and charged a 16-year-old male teenager with murder in connection to a fatal shooting on Aurora’s southeast side in early February.
Just before midnight February 8, officers were called to reports of a person shot at an apartment in the 400 block of Sherman Avenue, Aurora. When officers arrived, they found John H. Smith, 20, of the 600 block of Sumner Avenue in Aurora, suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. Aurora Fire Department paramedics transported the man to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Detectives responded to the scene and immediately began to investigate the circumstances of the shooting. Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined the 16-year-old entered the apartment and shot Smith during an argument.
Detectives screened the case with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, who authorized one Class X felony count of first degree murder charges against the juvenile.
Late Sunday evening, the 16-year-old turned himself into the Aurora Police Department, where he was transported to the Kane County Youth Home.
The Aurora Police Department would like to thank the community for their assistance and cooperation in connection to this case.
The charges against the juvenile are not proof of guilt. The juvenile is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
—Aurora Police Department