Aurora Man With 1 Murder Under Belt Faces Attempted Murder Charge

AURORA, IL — An Aurora man has been charged with attempted murder and other felonies in connection with the shooting of another man over Christmas weekend and other incidences. According to a state registry for violent offenders, 37-year-old Ernesto Sanchez was convicted of murdering his girlfriend when he was 17.

More recently, Aurora police said Sanchez, of the 800 block of Fifth Avenue, is accused of shooting another 37-year-old Aurora man Christmas weekend. At around 11:15 p.m. Dec. 23, police said he had an altercation with the victim in the 1100 block of Superior Street. During the argument, he pulled out a gun, fired several shots that hit the man, then took off. Police said the motive for the shooting is unclear.

The man was left with critical injuries, according to a Facebook post from Aurora police, and Sanchez was left with charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. These charges were secured through the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office last week.

Sanchez racked up two more charges relating to domestic battery from an incident that occurred Jan. 8 in the 2300 block of N. Farnsworth Avenue around 12:15 a.m. Police said he beat a 40-year-old woman he knew. Sanchez is being held in lieu of a $1.65 million bail at the Kane County Correctional Center, according to the Facebook post.

The Aurora Beacon-News reported he also has pending felony weapons charges from a June 2016 traffic stop he fled. He was taken into custody a few months later. Any charges against Sanchez are not proof of guilt.

Sanchez pleaded guilty to murder in 2003 for the shooting that killed his estranged girlfriend, 18-year-old Devora Chavez, according to Beacon-News Records. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for that murder.

Image via Aurora Police Dept.