Elgin police say 3 shootings don't appear related
Two men died and one was wounded after three shootings in 12 days in Elgin, but police say there is no indication of any connection.
Devonte Turner, 20, of Elgin died of multiple gunshot wounds Thursday night, Kane County Coroner Rob Russell said in a news release Friday afternoon.
Turner was found in the parking lot of Wendy's restaurant near South McLean Boulevard and Fleetwood Drive, on Elgin's west side, after police responded to a report of a shooting nearby at the Buena Vista apartment complex on the 1200 block of Fleetwood Drive.
Gang tensions have been escalating in the apartment complex in the last six months, said 18-year-old Erik Jones, who said he doesn't live there but hangs out there often. He knew Turner but hadn't seen him in a while, he said.
"They (people) are getting ready to blow, and now it's getting hot," he said, referring to violence typically escalating in summer.
Turner and Daniel Figueroa, 20, who was shot and killed April 18, are the first two shooting victims in Elgin this year. Last year, there were three murders in the city.
A shooting April 24 that wounded a 26-year-old known gang member may have been gang-related, police Cmdr. Colin Fleury said.
"We are actively investigating all three incidents," he said. "Nothing at this time points to any of the three being related."
Before this month, the last reported shooting victim in Elgin was a man who suffered a graze wound to his chest in January while walking on Villa Street. There were 44 incidents of shots fired last year in Elgin, about half gang-related, police said.
Councilwoman Carol Rauschenberger said she planned to ask Police Chief Jeff Swoboda for an update at Wednesday's city council meeting.
"I feel like we were just at that point where we felt like the city has such a great record for safety," she said. "My only hope is that (recent shootings are) just an aberration."
Police have increased patrols in response to the shootings and plan to increase youth outreach this summer, Swoboda said.
"Elgin is a big city and we have real crime in Elgin as every big city does," he said. "We really reduced crime so much that when these (shootings) happen, people are shocked."
The shooting was an anomaly at Buena Vista, where a security firm was hired by management a couple of years ago, said 10-year resident Christine Case, who woke up after hearing gunshots Thursday night. "I was surprised, because this hasn't happened in a while," she said.
Resident Tonya Neal, who moved in with her three boys ages 4, 6 and 7 just two months ago, said she's scared. "I'm worried about safety," she said. "This makes me want to move."
The first two shootings this month took place on the city's east side. The April 24 shooting was on the 700 block of Dundee Avenue; Figueroa was found at Prairie Street and Grove Avenue after a report of a disturbance nearby.
Mayor David Kaptain said he's confident police are investigating thoroughly.
"You're always worried that these things can flare up," he said. "We have a gang task force and those guys hit the streets and start talking to people, but oftentimes it's hard to get information on these kinds of things."
Anyone with information about the shootings can call police at (847) 289-2507, the anonymous tip line at (847) 695-4195, or text 847411 with "ELGINPD" at the beginning of the text.