Two people have been charged, and a handgun was recovered, following a gunfire incident in the early morning of March 26 on the East Side of Aurora, according to the Aurora Police Department.
Aurora Police Chief Matt Thomas, in a news release from the department, said that no people or property were struck by gunfire in the incident.
At around 12:48 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, officers responded to ShotSpotter alerts in the 500 block of East Downer Place and the 100 block of North Union Street, the release said. Evidence of gunfire was found at both scenes and video footage of the incident was obtained, officials said.
That information was shared among the responding officers and the department’s Critical Incident Intelligence Center, the news release said. Department personnel then identified a vehicle matching the description in the area using license plate reader technology, according to police.
Around 30 minutes later, officers located and stopped the suspect vehicle, observing and recovering a 9mm handgun, the department said. Officers also recovered spent shell casings from both locations, with a preliminary investigation indicating that the casings were consistent with ammunition found inside the vehicle, according to the release.
The four occupants of the vehicle were then taken into custody, with two subsequently charged by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office in connection with the incident.
Roque Parra-Salinas, 31, and Vrian Cruz, 27, both of Aurora, have been charged with multiple felony counts. Parra-Salinas, the driver of the vehicle, has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated driving under the influence, according to the release. Cruz, a passenger, has been charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, officials said.
Parra-Salinas will next appear in court on April 10, while Cruz has a status hearing scheduled for April 23, according to Kane County court records.
The other two adult occupants of the car that were taken into custody were released without charges, the police department said.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, per the department, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Aurora Police Department Investigations Division at 630-256-5500.