Crime & Safety
Gang Member Convicted of Pulling Gun on Aurora Cops
A Kane County jury found Erik J. Esparza guilty late Wednesday of possession of a firearm by a gang member and aggravated assault.
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AURORA, IL - A known gang member in Aurora is facing prison time after a jury found him guilty late Wednesday of pointing a handgun at an Aurora police officer last summer, prosecutors said.
The police officer then, out of fear for his life, fired two shots at Erik J. Esparza, 20, of 3N block of East Mary Lane in St. Charles, but did not hit anyone during the encounter in July 2015. The Kane County jury on Wednesday convicted Esparza on charges of possession of a firearm by a street gang member, a class 2 felony; aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a class 2 felony; and aggravated assault, a class A misdemeanor.
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Prosecutors presented evidence at the trial that showed at about 7:20 p.m. on July 11, 2015, two undercover Aurora police officers inside an unmarked police car in the area of Parker Avenue and Pearl Street on Aurora’s near east side saw Esparza and 23-year-old Rene Muro, of the 300 block of Beach Street, ”acting suspiciously,” according to a Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.
>>>> MORE ON PATCH: Charges Filed Against Men Who Pointed Gun at Police
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As the undercover vehicle approached the two to investigate, prosecutors said Esparza raised a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun and pointed it directly at one of the officers. That is when the officer fired two shots but missed both Esparza and Muro, who prosecutors said is also a known gang member.
Esparza and Muro fled and Muro was captured not far from the scene. Police found Esparza about 1.5 hours later lying in weeds between two garages in the 300 block of East Ashland Avenue, prosecutors said.
Esparza is next expected in court on March 18 for a sentencing hearing and faces between three and 10 years in prison. He remains in custody at the Kane County Jail and his prior bond of $200,000 was revoked following his conviction, according to the news release.
Muro’s case is pending, prosecutors said.
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