Two Aurora residents charged after drive-by leads to shots-fired incident in DeKalb

SYCAMORE – An Aurora man is being held in the DeKalb County Jail after police said he fired at a crowd of people in the 900 block of Greenbrier Road in a drive-by shooting early Sunday.

One of the people in the crowd returned fire, police said.

James C. Lewis, 18, of the 2200 block of Bittersweet Court, was ordered held on $75,000 bond Wednesday on charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm. His girlfriend, Leilani M. Hollingsworth, 21, of the same address, faces the same charges and was ordered released without posting bail. If convicted, each could face from four to 15 years in prison.

The couple was arrested Tuesday, according to court records.

Records show Lewis admitted he’d been in an argument at 930 Greenbrier Road, and Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Schwertley said Lewis’ girlfriend, Hollingsworth, was the getaway driver.

According to court records, witnesses told police they saw four people get into a white Chevrolet Suburban about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, and that Lewis popped out of the southbound SUV’s sunroof and shot at a group of about a dozen people standing on the porch of 930 Greenbrier Road. Records show Lewis told police he’d fired five rounds. Numerous shell casings were found in the area, and two vehicles – a Dodge and a Hyundai – were damaged by gunfire, although no one was hurt, police said.

Witnesses also said a person in the crowd pulled a gun and returned fire. A release from DeKalb police said the incident is under investigation.

Video surveillance helped police identify the Suburban and its occupants, and Aurora police helped with the arrests of Hollingsworth and Lewis.

If Lewis is able to post $7,500 to be released, he’ll be placed on electronic home monitoring.

DeKalb County Chief Judge Robbin Stuckert, who set Lewis’ bail, also ordered Hollingsworth to be released on her signature and that she be placed on home monitoring, although that became a point of contention. Hollingsworth plans to live in the 2200 block of Bittersweet Court, but she said she and her son will soon have to move.

Both Lewis and Hollingsworth are due back in court at 9 a.m. Aug. 31.