Two charged in Aurora shooting which injured 4-year-old

Two men have been charged in the recent shooting of a 4-year-old girl on Aurora's near east side, police said.

Samuel O. Sosa of the 0-99 block of Highview Drive in Yorkville and Omar Ambriz of the 400 block of South Ohio Street in Aurora, both 19, each face single counts of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with Wednesday night's shooting that left the young girl with an injured arm, police said Friday.

Police said they believe the shooting was gang-motivated.

Police said the two men were riding in a red Ford Escort about 8 p.m. Wednesday following a vehicle, which carried the victim and three other people, from Downer Place and Jackson Street to a home in the 900 block of North Avenue.

More Coverage Links Aurora girl shot; three in custody [05/29/08]

After the victims pulled into a driveway and exited their vehicle, Sosa is accused of firing four to six shots at them from the eastbound Escort driven by Ambriz. One of the shots grazed one of the girl's arm.

Ambriz continued driving east on North Avenue but apparently lost control of the car and crashed into a fence, according to police.

Witnesses said the men fled the vehicle. Police and Kane County sheriff's deputies set up a perimeter in the area and arrested a 20-year-old Aurora man in the 500 block of Smith Boulevard. That man has been released without charges at this time.

At nearly the same time as the 20-year-old's arrest, police learned Sosa and Ambriz might have been involved in the shooting.

An Aurora police officer spotted Sosa riding in another vehicle. When officers stopped him near Sixth Avenue and Smith Street they found Ambriz lying in the back seat. They then took both Sosa and Ambriz into custody without incident.

The driver of the second vehicle was released without charges.

The 4-year-old girl was treated at an Aurora hospital and released.

Police still are investigating the shooting and have not ruled out additional charges.