Aurora Man Dies After Shooting Self in Head Following Police Foot Chase

AURORA, IL — An 18-year-old Aurora man who shot himself in the head after a foot chase has died.

Anthony Martell, 18, of Aurora, was pronounced dead Wednesday afternoon at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

According to the preliminary investigation, at approximately 8:41 p.m., the officer pulled over a 2003 Chevrolet Impala in which Martell was a passenger in the area of North Avenue and Fourth Street. When the officer approached the vehicle, he smelled cannabis coming from the inside and asked the man to step out. As the officer was talking with the man, he fled westbound on Fourth and the officer ran after him. It was during the chase that the man turned and fired more than one shot at the officer and the officer returned fire.

A short time later, responding officers found the man apparently trying to get into a home in the 200 block of South LaSalle Street. When they confronted him, he produced a handgun and shot himself in the head. Aurora Fire Department Paramedics transported the man to an Aurora Hospital for initial treatment. He was then airlifted to a suburban hospital where he was pronounced deceased at approximately 9:00 this morning.

There were no other injuries and nothing was apparently hit by any gunfire. A handgun was recovered at the scene. The only other occupant of the vehicle was the 36-year-old female driver who is an acquaintance of the 18 year old. She fully cooperated in the initial investigation and was not charged.

The officer involved is 37 years old, a nine year Aurora Police veteran and is assigned to the Community Oriented Policing unit. Per standard Aurora Police policies, an internal investigation into the incident has been initiated and the officer placed on modified duty.

The independent investigation into the officer involved shooting is being conducted by the Illinois State Police.