(CREDIT: Google Maps)

Aurora police are seeking assistance from the public in their investigation into the shooting death of a 64-year-old Aurora man that occurred early Sunday morning (Nov. 6, 2016) on the Near West Side.

(CREDIT: Google Maps)

At approximately 12:35 a.m., officers responded to a home in the 800 block of Iowa Avenue for a reported gunshot victim. Upon arrival, they found the man, Samuel Smith Jr., inside his home suffering from a single gunshot wound. Smith was transported by Aurora Fire Department paramedics to Presence Mercy Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased at 1:22 a.m.

The investigation is in its preliminary stages and police are continuing to process evidence. Detectives have several working theories but no firm motives as of yet. It is also not known if Smith was targeted.

Police have interviewed Smith’s 73-year-old live-in girlfriend who was the only other person in the home and was asleep on the second floor at the time of the shooting. Both she and at least one other person reported hearing more than one gunshot being fired.

Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora police investigators at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5000 for information that leads to any arrests. Tips can also be submitted through the Aurora Police Department’s free app available through iTunes, the Android Market, or Amazon App Store. Simply search for “My Police Department”, find the Aurora Police, and download.

An autopsy on Smith is scheduled for today (Monday, Nov. 7) at the Kane County Coroner’s Office in Geneva.

SOURCE: Aurora Police Department news release