BACK MATT RAPID REPLY:

Police: Aurora boy, 15, pointed gun at off-duty police officer

In these days of budget crisis and red ink, Aurora looks to make deep cut
in our public safety by lying off 8 police officers and pushing for even
more.
The Mayor as well as some of the members of the city council believes that
Aurora can get along with less.
Less safety for our children from gang bangers, drug dealers and newly
released convicted sex offenders. I say why the citizens of Aurora should
not suffer from these leaders past miss management of tax payer’s funds.
In these days of troubling economic times we need to make sure that public
safety isn’t sacrificed for quick fixes, because in the end there is no greater
price to be up held then public safety for that one of the true nature and
foundation of our government.

Matt Harrington
Aurora’s Write-In Candidate for Alderman at Large
Police: Aurora boy, 15, pointed gun at off-duty police officer
By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com Jan 8, 2011 6:52PM
AURORA — The juvenile who was shot by an off-duty Aurora police officer was a 15-
year-old male from Aurora, police said this afternoon. The teen died shortly after the
shooting.
At about 3:28 p.m. Friday, the officer was driving near Fifth Street and South Avenue
when he saw the male juvenile shooting at a group of teenagers, Dan Ferrelli, Aurora
police spokesman said.
According to police, the 15-year-old was shot to death by the officer after the teen
refused to drop a revolver he had used to shoot at a group of teenagers. The teen was
taken to Rush Copley Medical Center by paramedics and died while in surgery. He was
pronounced dead at 5:25 p.m. Friday, police said. An autopsy is pending at the Kane
County coroner’s office.
Police say that the suspect, along with two 13-year-old males from Aurora, apparently
became involved in an altercation with at least four Aurora boys: two 14-year-olds, a 12-
year-old and a 13-year-old, as the group walked southbound on Fifth Street.
During the altercation, the suspect apparently pulled a handgun and started firing at the
boys. The off-duty officer happened to be driving his personal vehicle in the area and
observed the shooting. The officer exited his car, identified himself as an Aurora Police
officer, and ordered the suspect to drop the gun several times, police said.
The suspect refused and when he pointed his gun at the officer, the officer fired his
weapon striking the suspect several times, police said.
No one else was injured and no criminal charges have been filed against any juveniles
involved. Officers recovered the suspect’s gun at the scene, Ferrelli said.
Police have not named the officer, but police say he is 43 years old and an 11-year
veteran of the department. The juvenile who was shot to death has also not been
identified. The officer will be assigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of
an internal investigation, Ferrelli said.
The Aurora Police Department’s Investigative Deadly Force Team (IDFT), a team of
specially trained officers who investigate any incidents of deadly force use, are leading
the investigation.