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2 dead, 1 wounded in shooting at Aurora, Illinois restaurant

Two people were killed and a third was wounded during a concert at a restaurant in Aurora, Illinois, on Saturday night.  

Police in Aurora were called at 9:10 p.m. to the Two Brothers Roundhouse, at 205 N. Broadway in Aurora. Officers found three gunshot victims at the scene.

A woman was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead, while a man was hospitalized in critical condition. Another man, believed to be the shooter, was pronounced dead at the scene, Aurora police said.

Police said all three people involved in the shooting are believed to have known each other, and the shooting is believed to have been domestic in nature.

Witnesses wrote on Facebook that the shooting happened while the band Beyond the Blonde was performing at the restaurant, and moments after the shots, people ran for their lives. One person reported hiding under a table.

Going back inside the restaurant, where the deadly shooting took place, stirred up a lot of emotions for Charity Benevelli, lead singer of the band, on Sunday morning.

"The equipment, everything. My microphone was on the floor just where I left it," she said.

The band was on stage with about 140 people in the crowd. It was when Benevelli was talking to the crowd in between songs, she said shots were fired. 

"I know what a gunshot sounds like, but it was hard to process that's exactly what it was," she said.  

Benevelli says she hit the floor, crawled her way off the stage, and outside.   

Jill Curtin was there too. She helped give aid to one of the victims.

"Once we got out, they said the shooter killed himself, but there were wounded people inside," she said.    

Curtin said her nurse instincts kicked in, and she went to help where Aurora police said the three people were shot. 

"So, I just ran inside and found a guy at the top of the balcony that was shot, so I knelt down and helped him until EMS arrived," she said. 

"There were some ladies with their hands up in the air, they were running screaming 'help help!' and we did hear some gunshots." Said Ruby Saraf.    

Saraf said she was at the Christkindlmarket across the street and was helping load eight adults with special needs into a bus when everything went down.

 "It's a crazy feeling going from everyone is having a great time, happy, smiling, dancing, and then all of a sudden it is absolute fear," Benevelli said.

She said when it comes to performing again following the incident, she doesn't know how she will get over what happened.

"I don't know. I honestly don't know. Just walking back in here today to get our equipment is a lot," she said.    

Two Brothers Roundhouse is the former Walter Payton Roundhouse, once owned by the legendary Chicago Bears player.  The restaurant released a statement Sunday morning that read that the restaurant is temporarily closed:

"We are profoundly saddened by the violence that occurred on Saturday November 22nd at Two Brothers Roundhouse. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. The safety, comfort, and well-being of our guests, staff, and community remain our highest priorities.

"We are deeply grateful for the swift and professional response from Aurora Police and Fire Department and all the emergency personnel.

"We appreciate the compassion, patience, and understanding shown by our guests and community during this difficult moment.

"We will update restaurant hours and information soon."

The Kane County Coroner's office will conduct autopsies on the two people killed in the shooting. Their identities have not been released.

"Our hearts are heavy tonight. Members of our community were senselessly shot while simply trying to enjoy a night out, and our entire city feels the weight of that violence." Aurora police Chief Matt Thomas said in a news release. "On behalf of the Aurora Police Department, I want the victims and their families to know we are standing with you and doing everything we can to make sure you have answers."

Aurora police asked anyone with information to call the department's investigations division at 630-256-5500. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000, or at www.p3tips.com/135.

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