Mayor of Aurora, Richard C. Irvin honored a young City staff member for his quick-thinking, calm, heroic actions this past weekend.
City of Aurora Community Outreach specialist Brian Moreno was presented the Mayor’s MVP Award, the highest award given to a City staff member, helping to secure guests from a man wielding a gun at the City’s overnight warming center this past Saturday.
Moreno, who was staffing the warming center, witnessed the gunman striking a guest at the warming center with his gun before pointing the firearm at other overnight guests. Moreno quickly called 911 while helping to usher guests outside to safety.
“For those of who signed up for the military or to be a police officer, you expect at some point your life could be in danger while doing your job,” mayor Irvin said to Moreno during a staff member presentation this morning. “But when you are staffing the warming center, you don’t expect that. I only hope that we all would have the calm and professionalism you showed in handling the situation. You are valued and appreciated.”
Moreno received a standing ovation from City executives, including the Police Chief Keith Cross, for his heroic actions.
“I am just blessed that we are all still here to share the story,” said Moreno.
January 20, 2024, at approximately 7:39 PM, Officers were dispatched to the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway, for a man in possession of a firearm. Officers arrived on scene and located the man, 18-year-old Eliahias Martinez of Aurora, near the men’s restroom. Martinez was taken into custody, and officers found a handgun on his person.
During the investigation, officers learned Martinez was observed holding the firearm in his hand and pointing it at several people before officers arrived. Additionally, Martinez was observed striking another man with his hands and the firearm.
The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office authorized the following charges against Martinez:
- Armed Violence (Class X felony)
- Aggravated Battery/Public Place (Class 3 felony)
- Aggravated Battery/Deadly Weapon (Class 3 felony)
- Aggravated Assault with Laser Attached to Firearm (Class 4 felony)
- Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 x 2 charges)
— City of Aurora government