Two facing gun charges in Aurora

Aurora police arrested two men they called confirmed gang members Wednesday on gun-related charges.

The first occurred after officers went to the 500 block of West Galena Boulevard at 7:34 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a report of an aggravated battery involving a firearm, police said.

An investigation indicated a 33-year-old man was injured after being hit in the face with a gun, police said.

Police tracked a suspect, later identified as Ramier Smith, 25, of Aurora, to a residence in the 200 block of Half Moon Circle. Smith initially remained inside the home, leading to a standoff for several hours, before eventually surrendering at about 1 a.m. Wednesday.

He’s charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, police said.

Smith is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial detention hearing Friday.

In a separate case, police arrested Alejandro Urzua Sr., 49, of Aurora, at about 4:09 p.m. Wednesday on charges of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and possession of a firearm without a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card.

The charges stem from a Jan. 7 incident in which police searched a home in the 2200 block of Ridge Avenue and said officers found two handguns.

Urzua was granted pretrial release Thursday, according to DuPage County court records.

ssarkauskas@dailyherald.com