Just after 3 a.m. on Saturday, December 18th, 2021, Aurora police, after receiving a tip, discovered a man apparently suffering from a gunshot wound in the 400 block of Clark Street in Aurora. Aurora Fire Department paramedics arrived on the scene and transported the man to Rush Copley Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased after 9 a.m.
Yesterday, the department announced that it has arrested two people for murdering 37-year-old Edward Smith, Jr., that morning.
According to police, the victim and the female suspect had been at a bar that evening and agreed to meet at the victim’s home. Detectives determined that the female suspect intended to rob the victim and she met up with a male companion to go to the victim’s apartment. Once the male and female arrived at the apartment, the male suspect and victim got into a physical struggle and the victim was shot. Moments later, the male and female suspects got back into their vehicle and left the area.
A 31-year-old female and a 37-year-old male, both of Aurora, have been charged with the following offenses by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office:
- 1 count of First-Degree Murder – Intend Death or Great Bodily Harm
- 1 count of First-Degree Murder – Probability of Death
- 1 count of First-Degree Murder – Forcible Felony
- 1 count of Armed Violence – Discharge of a Firearm (Class X Felony)
- 1 count of Residential Burglary (Class 1 Felony)
“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. “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.”
