No charges in deadly Aurora police shooting of Geneva battery suspect: Kane County state's attorney

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- The Kane County State's Attorney's Office said Friday that criminal charges will not be filed in a deadly Aurora police shooting last year.

The office said officers who shot Christopher Lepe, 19, had the reasonable belief that the deadly force they employed was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themselves and others.

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The incident began around 1:30 a.m. March 19, 2025, as police were looking for Lepe, who was wanted in connection with aggravated battery to a Geneva police officer, officials said.

The Geneva police officer had approached a driver, Lepe, after he looked intoxicated in a lot in the 1500-block of South Randall Road, Geneva police said.

His vehicle was also possibly connected to windows being shot by a BB gun in Geneva, Aurora, North Aurora and St. Charles, officials said.

SEE ALSO: Newly released video shows Aurora police fatally shooting Geneva battery suspect following chase

When police asked Lepe to step out, he allegedly dragged the officer with his car and fled the parking lot, Geneva police said. The officer was seriously injured and was taken to a local hospital.

Lepe was later located on Lake Street near Galena Boulevard in Aurora, Kane County officials confirmed. When an Aurora officer attempted to pull him over, police said he refused to stop.

After a police chase, officers deployed stop sticks and the vehicle came to a stop next to Spring Lake Memorial Gardens Cemetery, near Route 25 and Ashland Avenue.

Lepe got out of the car brandishing what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle in his right hand, officials said. The rifle was later discovered to be an air gun.

Lepe pointed the rifle up, then down, then directly at an Aurora police officer, officials said. Two Aurora officers fired several rounds from their weapons, and Lepe was shot multiple times.

He later died.

Toxicology reports showed that Lepe had a blood alcohol concentrate of .125 and the presence of cannabis in his system, officials said.

"In conducting this review, my office thoroughly examined all available body-worn camera footage, squad vehicle camera footage, and other evidence. It is clear to me that the officers here had reasonable belief that their use of force was necessary to protect themselves and others from great harm. The officers had no way of knowing the realistic-looking rifle Mr. Lepe armed himself with and pointed at them was not real. My condolences go out to his family for their tragic loss. I want to thank the Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force for their thorough investigation. Thank you also to the Aurora Police Department and Kane County Sheriff's Office for their cooperation throughout this process," State's Attorney Jamie Mosser said in a statement.

The video in the player above is from an earlier report.