Trial begins in Aurora armed robbery murder case

The trial began Monday in Kane County for an Aurora man accused of killing a man during a robbery.

Zahmeir Andrews is accused of shooting Edwin Varela, 19, the evening of Aug. 20, 2023, in the 1300 block of North Glen Circle, Aurora.

He is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and attempted armed robbery.

Varela’s girlfriend testified Monday that she was a passenger in the car Varela was driving that night. She said she suspected Varela drove to Glen Circle to sell marijuana.

When they arrived, Varela and the buyer had a dispute over the buyer’s Cash App account not working. Varela decided to leave, she said.

The buyer then called “pop out” loudly, and three or four other males came out from behind the townhouses, she said.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,” she told Varela, who put the car in reverse and backed out of a driveway.

She said a man walked in front of the car, pointing a gun at them, then walked over to Varela’s window and fired the gun.

Varela was hit in the neck, chest and a shoulder. The woman was not injured.

Varela’s car then crashed into another car.

Andrews chose to have his trial heard by a judge. It is expected to take several days.

He was 16 at the time of the shooting, but was charged as an adult. Authorities also charged Daniel D. Robinson, now 20, with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and attempted armed robbery. He is awaiting trial. His next court date is June 22.

Another 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery. They were charged as juveniles. The spokesman for the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office said he is prohibited from releasing information about the status of juvenile-court cases without an order from the juvenile court.