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Christopher Lepe

Gender : Male

Age : 19

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 03/19/2025

Location : Route 25 near Ashland Avenue

City : Aurora

County : Kane

State : Illinois

Agency : Aurora Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police after pursuit

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Around 1:30 a.m., a Geneva police officer approached a vehicle in a parking lot at 1500 South Randall Road, suspecting the driver, later identified as Christopher Lepe, of intoxication. When asked to exit the vehicle, Lepe allegedly drove off, dragging the officer a short distance and causing serious injuries
Pursuit and Shooting: Aurora police located Lepe's vehicle and initiated a pursuit. The chase concluded near Spring Lake Memorial Gardens Cemetery after officers deployed stop sticks. As officers approached, Lepe reportedly displayed a weapon, prompting two officers to fire. Lepe was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead

Family's Response and Demands:
Lepe's family has expressed profound grief and frustration, citing a lack of information and access to his body:
Access to Remains: Lepe's mother, Yanet Lepe, tearfully pleaded for the opportunity to see her son's body, stating, "Above everything else, I need to know if that is my son!"
Calls for Transparency: Family members and supporters have organized vigils and protests, demanding the immediate release of body camera footage and comprehensive details surrounding the shooting.

Community Actions:
The community has rallied in support of the Lepe family:
Vigils and Protests: Candlelight vigils have been held outside the Aurora Police Department, where attendees called for justice and accountability.
Social Media Campaigns: A Facebook page titled "Justice for Christopher Lepe" has been established, serving as a platform for organizing events and sharing updates.
Official Response:
Investigation: The Kane County Major Crimes Task Force is conducting an investigation into the shooting. Aurora police have released still images from body-worn cameras but have yet to release full footage, citing the ongoing investigation
Officer Status: The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such incidents. Their identities have not been publicly disclosed.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://abc7chicago.com/post/heavy-police-presence-reported-aurora-broadway-closed-between-hazel-ashland/16049520/
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/shooting-investigation-underway-aurora-illinois/
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/aurora-police-investigation-broadway
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250319/news/aurora-police-kill-man-after-chase/
https://publicsafety.aurora.il.us/Police/Command-Staff-Organizational-Structure/Office-of-The-Chief-of-Police/Public-Information-and-Media/APD-News-Releases