Cop Shot First After Suspect Pointed Gun: Aurora Police

AURORA, IL — An undercover officer fearing for his life fired at a suspect who pointed a gun at him Wednesday morning, leading to an exchange of gunfire that left one suspect wounded, Aurora police said Thursday. Four of the five suspects arrested in the incident remained in custody as of Thursday afternoon, and one suspect was still at large.

Police said several officers in the Community Policing Unit were sitting in three separate unmarked cars conducting an undercover operation targeting home burglaries and related gang activity at around 10:50 a.m. Wednesday in the 900 block of Grove Street. The officers were in plain clothes but wearing body armor that identified them as police, according to a press release. Police said the officers were watching a gray 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer when an occupant got out of the Lancer and raised a handgun at one of the officers.

"Fearing for his life, the officer fired several rounds at the suspect, who returned fire," police said. Two other officers in another unmarked car also fired at the suspect. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest Aurora news. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The alleged gunman, a 21-year-old Aurora man, continued exchanging fire with officers before running and getting into the back seat of a gold 1993 Toyota Corolla that arrived on the scene during the shooting, police said. Two other men, ages 20 and 21, were in the Corolla and the 20-year-old, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was shot in the leg. The driver attempted to take off but backed into a telephone pole at a high rate of speed before all three men were taken into custody, according to police.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 15-year-old boy, also allegedly tried to drive away but was stopped about a block away in the 900 block of Superior Street. The teen was taken into custody, but two other suspects fled on foot, police said. One suspect was apprehended nearby, and the other was still at large as of Thursday afternoon, according to police, who said they believe they may know his identity.

Three suspects, including the man who was shot, were treated at area hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries and released. One occupant of the Corolla likely suffered injuries in the crash, and the man who fled the Mitsubishi suffered a graze wound and minor cuts and scrapes, according to police. It's unknown whether the graze wound was caused by gunfire from police or one of the suspects, police said.

All four suspects remain in custody while the investigation continues. Police said the 15-year-old was released without charges, but could be charged later pending the outcome of the investigation. A gun was recovered from the Corolla, according to police.

None of the officers were hit in the shooting. At least one gun was recovered from one of the vehicles, police said.

An elementary school in the 1200 block of Front Street was briefly placed on soft lockdown following the shooting.