Three charged in armed robbery shooting near Aurora

Three men have been charged with armed robbery in connection with a shooting Monday evening near Aurora. One of them is a half-brother of the victim, according to a Kane County prosecutor.

Ellis Pryor, 20, of the 1700 block of Molitor Road, Aurora; Demeir L. Miller, 23, of the 800 block of May Street, Aurora; and Francis Whitaker, 21, of the 800 block of Konen Avenue in unincorporated Aurora, are charged with armed robbery with a weapon, armed robbery — discharge of a weapon causing great bodily harm, aggravated battery, armed violence, aggravated unlawful restraint, mob action, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful restraint, according to a press release from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.

Whitaker was arrested on Tuesday, Miller on Wednesday and Pryor on Thursday.

The robbery happened around 6:36 p.m. in the 800 block of Konen. Authorities said a red Mitsubishi Outlander stopped. Three people then approached the vehicle and demanded the driver give them money and a cellphone.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle Bechtold told Judge Salvatore LoPiccolo Friday, at a detention hearing for Miller, that the victim had arranged to come to Konen to smoke marijuana with Whitaker.

Whitaker got in the front passenger seat, and Pryor entered the rear driver’s-side seat, Bechtold said. Another man, later identified as a masked Miller, approached the driver’s door and began hitting the victim. The others joined the fight, Bechtold said.

After they got the money and phone, Pryor, who by then was outside the car, fired the shot, according to Bechtold.

She said Miller told police he had no idea the robbery was going to take place and that he was trying to break it up because the victim was his half-brother. But, she said, a woman told police she had been with the men earlier that day and heard them discuss the idea. She also saw them approach the vehicle.

“This was a targeted armed robbery. They robbed (the victim) because they believed he was coming there to sell drugs,” LoPiccolo said in explaining his ruling for Miller.

Whitaker is also being detained pretrial.

Sheriff Ron Hain gave credit to the Aurora Police Department and the federal Department of Homeland Security for providing information and support.