Montgomery man shot to death in Aurora

Aurora police are investigating the early-morning slaying of a 33-year-old Montgomery man who was shot Saturday while driving in Aurora.

Police would not speculate on a motive for the shooting but said they do not believe it was random.

They did not say if there were any suspects.

The dead man was identified as Bryce M. Stiff, of the first block of Hampton Road, Montgomery.

He was pronounced dead at an Aurora hospital at 2:58 a.m. He was taken there by Aurora paramedics after the car he was driving crashed.

Police said in a statement that it appears that Stiff died from the gunshot wound and not any injuries he may have sustained in the crash.

Police said they received a call at about 2:30 a.m. of shots fired in the area of River Street and North Avenue in Aurora.

While en route, they learned of a traffic crash with injuries in the 800 block of North Lake Street involving a Jeep that collided with a telephone pole, according to a news release from the police department.

Upon arrival at the crash site, police were directed by a 21-year-old Montgomery man to a vehicle that was just up the street in the parking lot of a rental car business. Stiff was inside that vehicle.

They said Stiff was driving with the 21-year-old man as his passenger in the 200 block of South LaSalle Street when they heard several shots ring out.

According to the police statement: One of the shots hit Stiff in the shoulder. He attempted to drive to an Aurora hospital but when he was headed north on Lake Street, he hit the Jeep which was also northbound.

The force of the crash caused the driver of the Jeep, an adult female, into the telephone pole. Stiff's vehicle continued north where it went over a berm and into the parking lot.

The driver of the Jeep had to be extricated from her vehicle. She suffered nonlife threatening injuries.

Stiff's 21-year-old passenger was not injured.

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 $5000 for information that leads to any arrests. Tips can also be submitted through the Aurora Police Department's free app.

An autopsy on Stiff's body is pending at the Kane County coroner's office.