Man charged with Aurora shooting, leading police on chase

A 55-year-old man has been charged with shooting one of his former roommates Saturday afternoon, then leading police on a chase in west suburban Aurora.

John W. Speery, 55, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated fleeing and eluding police, according to a statement from Aurora police.

The 56-year-old victim was outside his home about 4:40 p.m. in the 300 block of Jackson Place when Speery, his former roommate, drove up and called out to him, police said. Speery pulled out a handgun and fired a single shot from his vehicle, striking the man in the neck, then drove away.

The shooting stemmed from a personal dispute between Speery and the victim, but police would not say what the argument was about.

The victim was taken to a hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said. He is expected to survive.

Officers received a description of Speery and his 1998 Cadillac Brougham and spotted the car near Ohio and Grove streets and tried to pull it over, police said.

Speery refused to stop and led police on a 14-minute chase that at times exceeded 70 mph, according to police. The chase ended when Speery lost control of his car and slammed into an electric pole at Claim Street and Lincoln Avenue, and was taken into custody.

Speery was taken to a different hospital to be treated for minor injuries he suffered in the crash and later released, police said. No other injuries were suffered in the chase or crash.

Speery, of Aurora, was ordered held at the Kane County Correctional Center in St. Charles on a $500,000 bond. Police have not ruled out additional charges.