An 18-year-old confirmed gang member from Oswego was arrested by Aurora police Saturday morning for Aggravated Battery just days after being arrested and released on a vehicular burglary charge in Aurora.
According to police, at approximately 5:29am on Saturday officers responded to the 700 block of South River Street after the victim reported that an unknown man had threatened him. Preliminary investigation indicates the defendant approached the victim, who was sitting in his vehicle, and a confrontation followed during which the defendant allegedly threatened to shoot him, punched him in the face, and later threatened to stab him. The victim did not know the defendant.
Officers located a man matching the defendant’s description a short distance away near South River Street and Rathbone Avenue. The man is a confirmed gang member and was detained by officers. During the investigation, he allegedly attempted to approach and threaten the victim again before becoming physically confrontational with an officer. He was subsequently taken into custody.
The defendant had been arrested by Aurora Police just three days earlier following an investigation into vehicle burglaries in the area of South LaSalle and Bluff streets. During that investigation, officers recovered a wallet that had been taken from an unlocked vehicle. The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office approved one count of Burglary to a Motor Vehicle, a Class 3 felony, against the defendant in that case.
With respect to Saturday’s incident, the defendant has been charged with Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer, a Class 2 Felony, and Aggravated Battery in a Public Way, a Class 3 Felony.
The defendant remains in custody at the Kane County Adult Justice Center, with his next court date scheduled for October 14, 2026.
“When we see the same person involved in criminal activity multiple times in a matter of days, that gets our attention,” said Aurora Police Chief Matt Thomas. “It’s even more concerning when the suspect is a confirmed gang member and the behavior escalates into what appears to be a random and unprovoked confrontation. Our officers responded quickly, found him nearby, and took him into custody. Holding gang members accountable for criminal behavior remains a priority for our department, especially when their actions threaten the safety of our community.”
