Suspect identified, remains at large after 2 shot during domestic incident in Aurora, Illinois
Police are searching for the suspect who they said shot two men during a domestic incident in Aurora, Illinois, on Sunday morning.
Preliminary reports indicated that the men, 19 and 20, were found by officers near a basketball court suffering from gunshot wounds shortly after 6 a.m. in the 500 block of Station Boulevard.
Both were taken to the hospital by Aurora fire crews. The 20-year-old was in critical condition, and the 19-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Neighbors said they woke up the sound of rapid gunfire, and it was not the way they wanted to be woken up.
"It was constant," said Rob Collins. "It was like, bop, bop, bop, bop, bop."
Collins said he automatically knew what he heard Sunday morning.
"I knew they were gunshots. Yeah, I knew they were gunshots," he said. "So I went over to my balcony to see what's going on."
Collins said he heard a lot of commotion.
"By the time I heard the gunshots, a young lady was screaming out that he was getting away and his car is still there," he said. "I didn't see the young lady, but I saw shoes all over the place and shell casings all over the floor."
Police said the shooting stemmed from a domestic incident. A firearm was recovered, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The suspect has since been identified by police as 24-year-old Aaron Conley of Aurora.
He was described as a Black man with brown eyes, having short dreads, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 185 pounds, and with a thin build. He was last wearing all black clothing, with possibly a black hoodie-style quarter-zip sweatshirt.
The shooting prompted a massive search. CBS News Chicago's cameras were rolling as officer brought out their K-9 units to search for the suspect. Residents were asked to remain indoors during the investigation.
"They had us lock down here for about, I guess, two hours," said Collins. "Each section of the neighborhood was kind of cut down with caution tape, so we all had to stay in."
Metra BNSF Line trains were also halted near Route 59 due to the activity.
The lockdown was later lifted.
"It's never happened over here in this neighborhood," Collins said. "It was kind of crazy to hear 12 gunshots go off in a neighborhood like this."
Conley remains at large. The public is advised not to approach him if located.
Residents were asked to remain indoors during the investigation. Drivers were also advised to take alternate routes and avoid the surrounding area until the matter is resolved. Metra BNSF trains were halted near Route 59 due to the activity, but have since resumed in both directions.
Aurora police said they will provide updates as they become available.
Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact the Aurora Police Department at 630-256-5000. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000 or via their website