Joliet man shot in Aurora’s second slaying this year

Aurora police are investigating the shooting death of a 26-year-old Joliet man believed to be the city’s second murder victim this year.

Quiane D. Smith, of the 400 block of Madeline Street, was found with a gunshot wound to the head about 9 p.m. Tuesday in a yard near Spruce Street and Elmwood Drive, Aurora police said Wednesday.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene by the Kane County coroner’s office. An autopsy was conducted Wednesday but the results were not immediately available.

Police were dispatched to the scene Tuesday night after a call of several shots fired. Smith, whose Facebook profile says he was a 2005 graduate of Joliet Central High School, apparently was known to Joliet police, Aurora police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said.

No descriptions of suspects in the shooting have been released and a motive has yet to be established.

Ferrelli is asking anyone with information to call detectives at (630) 256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000 to qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests.

The shooting marks the second slaying of the year in Aurora, following the Jan. 31 death of Abigail “Aby” Villalpando, an 18-year-old West Aurora High School student who was hit repeatedly over the head with a hammer.

There were no murders in the city of nearly 200,000 people in 2012.