Aurora man charged with attempted murder in shootout with police

A man is facing 10 felony charges after an exchange of gunfire with Aurora police in the western suburb left another man wounded.

The shooting, which police initially said was prompted by people shooting at officers, started when an officer fired first.

Officers in three unmarked cars were on an undercover detail about 10:50 a.m. in the 900 block of Grove Street, according to a statement posted on the Aurora Police Department’s Facebook page.

The officers were watching the occupants of a 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer, who were suspected of home burglaries and other gang activity, when 21-year-old Jorge L. Guzman allegedly got out of the Mitsubishi and pointed a handgun at the officers, police said.

One of the officers, “fearing for his life,” fired several rounds at Guzman, who returned fire, police said. Officers in two of the unmarked cars also fired shots at Guzman.

During the exchange, Guzman ran and got into the back seat of a 1993 Toyota Corolla that had driven up during the incident, police said. A 20-year-old passenger in the Toyota was then shot in the leg by police.

The driver of the Toyota, another 21-year-old man, tried to take off, but sped backwards into a telephone pole in the same block, police said. All three men inside — including the man shot by police — were taken into custody.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 15-year-old boy, also took off, but was stopped about a block away in the 900 block of Superior, police said. He was taken into custody, while two passengers ran away. One of the men, 20-year-old Jose Mondragon, was caught and taken into custody, but the third was still at large Friday afternoon.

None of the officers were injured, police said. At least one gun, the one police believe was used by Guzman, was recovered from the Toyota.

Three of the men were taken to hospitals under police guard, police said. The man who was shot by police was treated for his wound, and Guzman was treated for injuries suffered in the Toyota crash. Mondragon was treated for a minor graze wound, cuts and scrapes. None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, and all were released from hospitals.

Two of the men and the juvenile were released from jail without charges, police said.

Guzman was charged with four counts of attempted murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, police said. His bail was set at $4 million Friday, and he was set to be transferred to the Kane County Correctional Center in St. Charles Friday afternoon.

Mondragon, who was not charged with the shooting, was charged with parole violation, police said.

An elementary school in the 1200 block of Front Street was briefly placed on soft lockdown during the incident, police said.