3 questioned in Aurora KFC shooting, robbery attempt

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- Aurora police are questioning three people in connection with an armed robbery attempt at a KFC restaurant where three employees were shot.

Police say two men walked into a KFC in the 1300-block of East New York Street in Aurora around 8:30 p.m. Thursday and demanded money. Police said three employees were shot with a rifle at some point during the incident. A fourth employee hid inside a back closet.

"You said the word ruthless. This was brazen. It was violent. It's a really shocking crime. Our focus is to hold those responsible and bring a sense of justice to the victims," said Dan Ferrelli of the Aurora Police Department.

Two men, ages 19 and 24, were shot in the torso. They were transported to a hospital, where they are listed in stable condition. A 17-year-old boy suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg and also being treated at a hospital. The employee who hid in the closet walked away uninjured.

Police took two men, ages 19 and 26, into custody after tracking them to an Aurora home Thursday night. A 45-year-old man was arrested Friday. Police say he may have been driving the getaway car.

"With this this investigation at this stage right now we don't want to elaborate too much on any of the details that we may know that only the offenders responsible for this also know," said Firrelli.

Aurora police soon tracked two suspects to a house a mile away in the 1100 block of Liberty Street -- a house they visited in July, sources told Eyewitness News, following an incident in which a nearby jewelry store and auto shop may have been robbery targets. The suspects from that incident were never charged.

On Friday afternoon, Aurora police picked up a 23-year-old woman from the Liberty street home on what they said was an unrelated criminal investigation.

"Our focus is to hold those responsible and bring a sense of justice to the victims," said Firrelli.

ABC7's Ravi Baichwal asks, "Were they good neighbors, or not so good neighbors?"

"Well to us they are good, because we didn't communicate with them so we don't know, we don't have any problem with them," said Luis Caban, neighbor.

This part of north Aurora has been enjoying an economic renaissance of sorts, and long-term business owners are now reeling over what happened.

"I am surprised and shocked really this neighborhood is changed over the years all for the better. It's sad," said Henry Long, D&M Mufflers.

Investigators are reviewing in-store surveillance video of the incident, which only lasted a few minutes. No charges have been filed yet.

Anyone with information should contact Aurora police at 630-256-5500 or the Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000.