2 Charged With Murder In December Shooting On Aurora's East Side: APD

AURORA, IL — Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the killing of a 37-year-old on Aurora's east side in December 2021, police said.

Just after 3 a.m. on Dec. 18, police got a 911 call reporting a man down in the 400 block of Clark Street. There, police found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Edward Smith Jr., 37, was pronounced dead at Rush Copley Medical Center just after 9 a.m., according to Aurora police.

Police conducted an investigation, which included canvassing the neighborhood and collecting forensic evidence, and learned Smith had met with a woman at a bar, and the two agreed to meet at his residence, on the same block as the bar. The woman, according to police, intended to rob Smith and subsequently met up with a companion to go to his apartment.

At Smith's home, he and the male suspect got into a physical struggle, which was when Smith was shot, police said. The two suspects then got into their car and left the area, according to officials.

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Aurora police said Tuesday they arrested Yecenia Granados, of the 700 block of Talma Street in Aurora, and Michael James, of the 600 block of South Lasalle Street in Aurora, and charged each with first-degree murder.

The Kane County State's Attorney's Office approved five charges each for Granados, 31, and James, 37: one count of first-degree murder, intend death or great bodily harm; one count of first-degree murder, probability of death; one count of first-degree murder, forcible felony; one count of armed violence, discharge of a firearm; and one count of residential burglary.

"Investigators worked diligently to investigate this case and bring justice to Edward Smith, Jr.'s family and hold the two suspects responsible," Aurora Police Chief Keith Cross said in a statement. "I would like to thank the members of the community who stepped up with information and evidence to allow our detectives to build a case and obtain felony charges."