Charges upgraded to homicide in Christmas Eve shooting, crash

A crash that claimed the life of a 21-year-old Batavia man on Christmas Eve has been reclassified as a homicide, Aurora police said Monday.

The victim, Craig R. Escamilla, apparently was involved in a shooting shortly before the SUV he may have been driving was hit at Galena Boulevard and West Street in Aurora, police said. The force of the crash threw him from the vehicle and caused his death.

Police said the charges against those involved in the shooting changed to homicide since the shooting eventually lead to Escamilla's death.

Police said Escamilla apparently was with two men about 11:30 a.m. when they were involved in a shooting in the area of West Street and Downer Place, one block south of where the accident occurred.

The SUV then sped north on West and ran through the stop sign at Galena, when it was hit by an eastbound 2007 Chevrolet Impala with four people inside, police said.

The two other men in the SUV ran north from the scene toward New York Street immediately after the crash.

The four people in the other car were members of a family from Hinckley. They were all treated and released from an Aurora hospital.

Detectives said they believe Escamilla was driving the SUV. They are still uncertain, however, if the three men were involved in the shooting with people on foot or in another vehicle, or if anyone in the SUV returned fire.

A handgun was recovered in the SUV.

An autopsy conducted on Escamilla indicated he died from injuries sustained in the crash and he was not shot, police said.

Detectives are continuing to pursue leads and are asking anyone with information to call them at (630) 801-6655 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000.

Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Police said they believe the incident is gang related.