UPDATE: Aurora woman charged in DeKalb shooting had prior felonies, held on $250,000 bond

DeKALB – An Aurora woman has been charged in connection with the Sunday night shooting that left one person dead and two others wounded after a high-speed police pursuit of the vehicle she was driving, DeKalb interim Police Chief John Petragallo said.

Vanity L. Garcia, 28, of the 900 block of Symphony Drive in Aurora, was charged with concealment of homicidal death and aggravated fleeing to elude. She also is facing charges from DeKalb police of aggravated driving on a suspended licence. If convicted of the most serious crime of concealment of homicidal death, Garcia could face up to 10 years in jail.

“We still have a number of things to do,” Petragallo said Tuesday. “Although an arrest has been made, we still have work to do.”

Petragallo said Garcia was not injured.

The charges come after a deadly shooting occurred in DeKalb’s north side late Sunday, and investigators have unveiled more details in the case, according to a news release from the police department.

DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller identified the man killed in the shooting as Jeffrey L. Carson Jr., 29, of Naperville. He died by multiple gunshot wounds, according to the release.

Two residents of the Hunter DeKalb apartment complex at 904 W. Hillcrest Drive were returning home late Sunday when they entered their apartment and were confronted by two men brandishing guns and demanding money. The men attempted to restrain the residents, and a struggle ensued. Shots were fired, and three people were hit by bullets, according to the release.

When officers arrived at the apartment about 11:55 p.m. Sunday, one observed a vehicle leaving the area, and they followed. Upon entering the apartment, other DeKalb officers found one person with gunshot wounds.

Meanwhile, the police pursuit led to the 14000 block of Plank Road, through Sycamore, where DeKalb police and DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies managed to stop a vehicle being driven by Garcia. Inside, they found two other people suffering from gunshot wounds, who were taken to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital. One of the men later was identified as Carson.

The other victim, and another person whom police are calling a suspect, remain in stable condition at the hospital, according to the release.

The DeKalb Police Department is working with the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s office on the investigation.

Police obtained several search warrants and, through searching, discovered three handguns, the release shows, two of which they believe were used in the shooting.

Petragallo said forthcoming information was delayed late Monday afternoon as investigators work on the case, but he expects more charges could be filed and arrests made in connection with the fatal incident.

Northern Illinois University and Sycamore police assisted, along with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and the DeKalb and Sycamore Fire departments, according to the release.

In bond court Tuesday, First Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Klein noted that Garcia had four prior felonies. She asked Garcia be held on $250,000 bond.

Judge Phillip Montgomery said Garcia’s previous criminal history includes crimes of violence and those involving weapons. He ordered Garcia held on $250,000 bond.

Garcia said she felt the amount was excessive and walked out of the closed circuit TV room used for bond hearings.

She is next due in court Jan. 10 for a preliminary hearing.