Man charged in Aurora grocery store parking lot shooting

A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged with shooting at two people earlier this month in a grocery store parking lot on Aurora's near west side, according to police and court records.

Joshua J. Hampton, of the 1900 block of Oak Street, faces four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm in connection with a shooting in a parking lot on the 1200 block of North Lake Street, according to Aurora police.

He also is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, in this case a 9 mm handgun, by a felon and possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner's Identification card, Kane County records show.

Police said Hampton spotted two men, ages 22 and 25 who he had an ongoing dispute with, around 5:15 p.m. June 17 walking through the parking lot.

Police said Hampton slowly drove toward the men and pointed a gun out the front window of his SUV.

But the 22-year-old, who had a concealed carry permit, pulled out his own gun and fired first, hitting and shattering a rear window in Hampton's SUV, police said. Hampton circled back twice and fired two shots and drove off; no one was hit, police said.

Authorities used surveillance video from nearby businesses to develop leads and eventually identify Hampton as the suspect, police said.

He was arrested June 21 at a North Aurora hotel without incident and a 23-year-old woman who was with him at the time of the shooting was released without charges.

If convicted of the most severe charge, Hampton faces a prison term of four to 15 years.

He is being held at the Kane County jail on $250,000 bail, meaning he must post $25,000 to be released while the charges are pending.

Hampton is next due in court on July 5.