Charges filed in two Aurora shootings

Charges have been filed in connection with two shootings last week in Aurora, authorities said Wednesday.

Gabriel G. Martinez, 22, of South Lincoln Avenue, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in connection with a drive-by shooting that occurred around 8:25 p.m. on July 18, police said.

Police said Martinez was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old boy. When the car was passing through the 200 block of Beach Street, Martinez fired several shots at a 14-year-old boy who was sitting on a front porch, police said.

No injuries were reported, but the house where the boy was sitting was struck twice by bullets.

Police believe the shooting was gang-motivated. They located Martinez in his home and took him into custody shortly before 1 a.m. on July 19. The 16-year-old driver and a 16-year-old girl who was also in the car at the time of the shooting have not been charged.

In a separate case, a 17-year-old faces two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and one count each of unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated discharge of a firearm and mob action in connection with a shooting on July 16.

Police said the 17-year-old beat a 15-year-old boy with a pipe around 1 p.m. near Jackson Street and North Avenue. The 15-year-old later contacted the 17-year-old on social media and they agreed to fight that evening in the parking lot of a church on the 600 block of Fifth Street, according to police.

When the 15-year-old and three of his friends arrived at the parking lot around 9:15 p.m., the 17-year-old fired several shots at their vehicle, police said. No one was injured, but the vehicle was struck twice. The 17-year-old was taken into custody on July 17 and transported to the Kane County Youth Home. He has been charged as a juvenile.

Investigations are ongoing in both cases and there may be further charges. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (630) 256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Crime Stopper callers are anonymous and may qualify for a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.