Images show driver leaving car with weapon moments before he was shot and killed by police
Aurora police released still images from officers’ body-worn cameras that show the moments before they opened fire on a 19-year-old driver who was exiting the vehicle with a weapon.
Authorities said Christopher Lepe, of Aurora, led police on a chase from Geneva to Aurora after he was suspected of injuring a Geneva officer who was investigating a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot and was dragged by the vehicle when the driver fled early Wednesday morning. The officer suffered serious injuries.
The chase ended on South Broadway near Ashland Avenue when Lepe’s car was disabled by tire-deflating spikes.
Lepe was holding a firearm as police officers approached, and two officers shot him, authorities said.
At a vigil Thursday night, Lepe’s brother Brian said he had seen still images of the moment before the shooting, too. He said the picture proved his brother was not aiming a gun at police and that he was trying to surrender.
In a press release accompanying the still images, Aurora police officials said they “remain committed to releasing video, still images and other pertinent information as the investigation allows.”
They expect to release video of the shooting at a later date.
An Aurora police spokesman directed questions about the gun to Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser. Her spokesman said they would not release that information yet.
Geneva Police Deputy Chief Brian Maduzia said Friday that there was a vandalism spree Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning at shopping centers on the 1500 block of Randall Road, where the Geneva officer was injured.
Twenty-two businesses reported having shattered glass windows and glass doors, including a Nordstrom Rack, a Skechers shoe store and at least two restaurants.
Additionally, North Aurora Police Chief Joseph DeLeo said there was similar vandalism that night in North Aurora.
“All aspects of the criminal damage to properties are part of the officer-involved shooting investigation being conducted by the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force. We do not have any definitive information to report at this time and no arrests have been made, pending further investigation,” Maduzia said.
He said the officer underwent surgery Wednesday, is doing well and is expected to return to work eventually.
• Daily Herald staff writer Susan Sarkauskas contributed to this report.