Aurora Police release dashcam, bodycam footage in fatal traffic stop shooting
AURORA, Ill. (WGN) — The Aurora Police Department released audio and video footage from an incident where a 19-year-old man was shot and killed by police after he allegedly injured an officer while fleeing from a traffic stop.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man fatally shot by police after allegedly injuring officer in traffic stop ID'd
On Wednesday, March 19, Geneva police officers encountered 19-year-old Christopher Lepe at around 1:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of South Randall Road after noticing what officers said was a car parked suspiciously.
According to police, an officer approached Lepe in his vehicle and asked him to exit the car after noticing he may have been intoxicated. Instead of getting out of his vehicle, police said Lepe drove off and dragged that officer a short distance before escaping.
A short time later, APD officers found Lepe heading south on Lake Street near Galena Boulevard, and this is where video footage from APD begins.
Dashcam footage from an APD cruiser shows police trying to stop Lepe in his vehicle at a stop sign, before he speeds off and officers initiated a pursuit onto northbound Route 25.
Police said as Lepe approached Ashland Avenue, officers deployed stop sticks. Bodycam footage from an APD officer in the release confirmed the use of stop sticks.
A short time later, the video shows Lepe's vehicle coming to a complete stop and his vehicle being surrounded by three police cruisers, one of which is from the Kane County Sheriff's Office.
After officers yell, 'hands up,' Lepe opens the door to his vehicle with what appears to be a long gun in his hands. A still image then shows what police describe as Lepe seemingly pointing the weapon at an officer.
In the following dashcam footage, police can be heard yelling 'Get on the ground' before officers fire shots.
Officers then assembled a team with a K-9 to approach the vehicle before rendering aid until paramedics rushed Lepe to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities said police later recovered a weapon at the scene.
Paramedics transported the injured officer to a local hospital with serious injuries before their condition was upgraded to stable.
The two officers who fired their service weapons, as well as a third officer present at the time of the shooting, were placed on administrative leave.
APD Police Chief Keith Cross issued the following statement alongside the audio and video release:
'Today, we are releasing key portions of dispatch audio, including a mutual aid request and a conversation between a 911 dispatcher and a Tri-Com dispatcher, along with video footage from the officer-involved shooting that took place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. To protect the privacy of those involved, some audio has been redacted, and faces have been blurred. We want to be upfront—this footage contains graphic content and may be difficult to watch. However, transparency is a cornerstone of our commitment to this community, and we believe it's important to share this information.
'We understand there are still many questions surrounding this incident. At this time, the case remains under independent investigation by the Kane County State's Attorney and the Kane County Major Crime Task Force, which means certain details must be withheld.
'This is a difficult moment for our community, and we do not take that lightly. Our hope is that by sharing this video, we can provide greater clarity about what happened. We appreciate your patience and understanding as this process unfolds.' – APD Police Chief Keith Cross
An independent investigation being conducted by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office and the Kane County Major Crime Task Force remains ongoing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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