Author: Paul Stukel

A jury has found a 27-year-old Montgomery man guilty of First-Degree Murder (Class M felony) in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Christopher B. McMorris of Aurora in May 2021. The jury determined that Ladarius A. Parker had personally discharged the firearm used in the murder. According to prosecutors, in the early morning of May 2, 2021, Parker was attending a party at a residence in the 1700 block of Stonegate Drive, Montgomery, when he shot and killed McMorris as McMorris sat in a parked vehicle. After an extensive investigation by the Montgomery Police Department with assistance from multiple cpunty and municipal…

A 23-year-old homeless man is in custody after attacking a St. Charles police officer with a knife Friday evening on St. Charles’ east side. According to police, at approximately 11:34pm officers from the St. Charles Police Department were dispatched to the area of East Main Street and Hunt Club Drive for a report of a subject who was reported to be running in and out of the roadway towards vehicles. The officers were met by the defendant and, after initially attempting to speak with him, the defendant quickly brandished a knife and charged at them. One of the officers deployed…

An 36-year-old Aurora man has been sentenced to six and a half years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections after having been found guilty of punching a police officer. Last December, a jury convicted Zackery L. Moore of the offenses of Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer Causing Great Bodily Harm (Class 1 felony) and Resisting a Peace Officer (Class A misdemeanor). According to the prosecution, on the evening of August 6, 2024, Aurora police received a 911 call for service describing a suspicious person pacing north and south along North Farnsworth Avenue near the intersection with Coolidge…

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra continues its 76th Season Classics Series with a program of powerful choral music and theatrical drama on Saturday, March 7, at 7:30pm, and Sunday, March 8, at 2:30pm, at The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way in Elgin. Led by ESO Music Director Chad Goodman, the orchestra is joined by the Elgin Master Chorale and guest vocalists Laura Strickling, soprano, and Jesse Blumberg, baritone, for a moving and multifaceted program featuring works by Valerie Coleman, Edvard Grieg, and Gabriel Fauré. It is Strickling’s second performance with the ESO, her first being in May 2024 when she joined…

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has charged a 42-year-old Aurora man with alleged gunrunning and using and possessing firearms illegally. On Monday, Raoul’s office charged the defendant with 72 counts relating to gunrunning, illegally possessing silencers and machine-gun conversion devices, and unlawful possession of unserialized firearms and receivers: “These charges are the result of a collaborative effort between my office, federal authorities and local law enforcement agencies to address gun trafficking and violence in our communities,” Raoul said. “I will not stop working to hold individuals accountable for making our communities less safe by selling illegal devices that have been…

Aurora Police are continuing to investigate a firearm incident that occurred Sunday morning on the city’s East Side. One adult and two juveniles were taken into custody in connection with the incident but, due to the complexity of the case and ongoing forensic review, they were later released pending further investigative results. According to police, at approximately 6:50am Sunday Aurora’s ShotSpotter system identified six rounds fired in the 100 block of North State Street. Shortly thereafter, officers learned that both a nearby residence and a church had been struck by gunfire. No injuries were reported. Responding officers observed at least…

A 46-year-old convicted felon has been denied pre-trail release after he was arrested last week for being in possession of cocaine and a variety of firearms, including a machine gun. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced today that last week Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release after being charged with one count of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Cocaine Between 400-900 Grams (a Class X Felony); one count of Aggravated Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (a Class 1 Felony); one count of Possession of a…

A 67-year-old woman was killed Sunday afternoon when the car in which she was a passenger veered across incoming traffic and collided with a tree on Boncosky Road in Dundee Township. According to a press release from the West Dundee Police Department, a preliminary investigation of the incident indicates that the vehicle, driven by a 63-year-old female, was driving westbound on Boncosky Road just off of Route 31 when her vehicle crossed the eastbound lane, went over the curb and struck a tree. The driver, and a rear-seat passenger described as a 67-year old male, suffered significant injuries. The woman…

Acclaimed wineries, rare pours, curated wine dinners, and immersive seminars After a much-anticipated return, Wine Lovers’ Weekend is back at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more indulgent than ever. Taking place March 27–29, 2026, this year’s theme—Uncork & Unwind—invites guests to escape to the rolling hills of Galena for a luxurious, wine-forward weekend filled with exceptional tastings, engaging seminars, and culinary-driven wine dinners. Designed for both curious newcomers and seasoned connoisseurs, Wine Lovers’ Weekend delivers rare access to outstanding wines and the people behind them. This year’s event welcomes two celebrated wineries from the West…

Elgin police are investigating the shooting death of a man on Elgin’s east side Friday evening. At approximately 6:17pm, officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Villa Street for a report of a shooting victim where they located an adult male with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries and, despite life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. Detectives from the Major Investigations Division are actively investigating the incident and the preliminary investigation has revealed that this appears to be an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. An autopsy will be conducted by the…