Vehicle theft charges also lodged against Aurora murder suspect
An 18-year-old from Aurora charged in a Nov. 7 murder during a botched robbery also has been charged with stealing a truck in early October, according to police and court records.
Keyonn S. Lovelace, of the 400 block of North Union Street, and another man were arrested late last week and charged with the shooting death of Daniel Sanchez, 19.
Police said the 2014 West Aurora High School graduate was gunned down in an industrial area on the city's east side when he went to buy marijuana from Leon D. Williams, 21, of Aurora.
Williams enlisted Lovelace to help to rob Sanchez, who fought back and was later shot in the head and leg as he fled, police said.
In the stolen vehicle incident, Aurora police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said a resident of the 1200 block of Yellowpine Drive reported Oct. 3 that his pickup truck, which was unlocked and had a spare key inside, was missing.
At about 4:20 a.m., a patrol officer spotted the truck at Ohio Street and Grand Avenue with two people inside and an expired plate, Ferrelli said.
The officer made a traffic stop, but as he approached the truck the driver sped off, and the officer later found the truck on the 0-99 block of Miller Avenue, crashed into a traffic sign, Ferrelli said.
Witnesses told authorities two men ran from the truck, but a search of the area was negative, Ferrelli said.
Police found items that belonged to Lovelace while processing the truck, Ferrelli said, noting he could not elaborate on the exact items.
"We are working to identify his alleged accomplice," Ferrelli said.
If convicted of murder, Lovelace faces between 20 and 60 years in prison. The stolen vehicle charge carries up to seven additional years in prison of convicted.
Lovelace was being held at the Kane County jail on $500,000 bail, and his next court date is Dec. 3.
Williams, of the 2400 block of North Farnsworth Avenue, Aurora, faces between 45 and 85 years in prison if convicted of firing the shots that killed Sanchez. Williams was being held on $300,000 bail, and has a Dec. 2 court date.