Police: Aurora man firing celebratory New Year's shots injures neighbor

A 48-year-old Aurora man has been charged with firing his gun to celebrate the new year and hitting and injuring a sleeping neighbor in the process.

Miguel Reyes, of the 1600 block of Fredericksburg Lane, faces charges of reckless discharge of a firearm causing injury and reckless conduct after a man on the same block on Aurora's southern border was shot in the stomach while sleeping in his home, according to Aurora police and court records.

Police said officers responded to a call shortly after midnight Wednesday from the man on Fredericksburg; the man showed officers a bullet hole in his wall before being taken to a hospital by paramedics in serious condition, police said.

Officers determined the shot was fired from somewhere on the 2300 block of Grand Pointe Trail, which is in the same neighborhood.

When officers began searching the area, they found more than 30 shell casings outside a home.

Officers began speaking with residents and learned there was a party at the home and people reported hearing what sounded like loud pops.

Police searched the house and vehicles in the driveway, locating a handgun in one of the cars.

Investigators said they determined the handgun belonged to Reyes, who told detectives he fired shots at midnight.

If convicted of the most severe charge, Reyes faces a sentence of up to three years in prison.

Reyes' next court date in Kendall County was not immediately available.