An Aurora man has been arrested and charged for allegedly punching several people at random, including a man holding a one-year-old baby, at an Aurora street festival last weekend.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Aurora Chief of Police Matt Thomas announced Monday that the 30-year-old has been been charged with three counts of Aggravated Battery in a Public Place (a Class 3 Felony) and one count of Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer (a Class 2 Felony).
As the charges are non-detainable under Illinois’ Safe-T-Act, he was released from custody with conditions including no contact with the victims and no entry to the Pacifica Square Strip Mall.
According to police, on Saturday at approximately 7:09pm, officers responded to the Pacifica Square strip mall in response to a 911 call reporting that a man had allegedly punched a girl and another individual holding a baby. The victims were all attending the 2026 Moon Festival at the strip mall. Following an investigation, it is alleged that the defendant approached the first victim, a fifteen-year-old male who was walking with his sister, and without provocation, punched the boy in the mouth under his left eye.
The defendant then left the immediate area and approached two women. The defendant asked the women for a cigarette and when they declined, he allegedly punched both women in the face.As another individual was leaving an establishment at the mall, carrying his one-year-old baby, the defendant, again without provocation, punched the man in the face as he walked by.
Officers located the defendant a short time later near a restaurant located at 4400 Fox Valley Center Drive and detained him, after which the defendant allegedly spat on the face and in the eye of an Aurora police officer.
“The allegations that [the defendant, completely unprovoked, randomly punched multiple people in the face, one of whom was holding his one-year-old child, are unconscionable and will not be tolerated in DuPage County,” Berlin said. “The charges against [the defendant] are very upsetting. Unless there is a threat of or infliction of great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement however, they are not detainable offenses under the State’s Safe-T-Act. Cases such as this illustrate the need for the General Assembly to strengthen the Act by giving judges more discretion when determining if a defendant is a danger or threat to society.”
The defendant’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 13, 2026, in front of Judge Daniel Guerin. He is currently on pre-trial release for burglary out of DeKalb County.
