Aurora man, 64, shot to death in home early Sunday

A 64-year-old Aurora man was shot fatally early this morning in his home on the city's Near West Side.

Police said officers called to the home in the 800 block of Iowa Avenue about 12:35 a.m. Sunday found the man, Samuel Smith Jr., inside the residence suffering from a single gunshot wound. Smith was taken to Presence Mercy Medical Center by Aurora Fire Department paramedics and pronounced dead at 1:22 a.m., police said.

The investigation is in its preliminary stages and police are continuing to process evidence, according to a statement from the Aurora Police Department. Detectives have several working theories but no firm motives as of yet, according to police, and it is not known if Smith was targeted.

Investigators have interviewed Smith's 73-year-old live-in girlfriend, who was the only other person in the home, and was asleep on the second floor at the time of the shooting, police said. Both she and at least one other person reported hearing more than one shot fired, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora police investigators at (630) 256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests.

Tips can also be submitted through the Aurora Police Department's free app available through iTunes, the Android Market, or Amazon App Store. Search for "My Police Department", find the Aurora Police, and download.

An autopsy on Smith is scheduled for Monday at the Kane County Coroner's Office in Geneva.