Candlelight vigil honors 19-year-old killed by police

Around 100 people gathered in Aurora on Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil honoring 19-year-old Christopher Lepe. The event took place outside the Aurora Police Department, where community members and Lepe’s family came together to remember him. Lepe was shot by police on Wednesday after a vehicle chase. His family expressed their grief, and Lepe’s mother, Yanet, spoke at the vigil. She said she has not yet seen Lepe’s body and desperately wants to confirm his identity. Attendees held signs demanding justice and answers about the situation. On Tuesday night, the police attempted to stop a man they said was involved in a prior incident where he allegedly displayed a weapon. After he fled from an earlier traffic stop, he was pursued by Aurora police. Officers reported that he displayed a weapon during the chase, prompting them to fire their weapons at him. Lepe was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. An investigation into the officers' actions is underway, led by the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, and no officers from the Aurora Police Department will take part in it. Three officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, following standard procedure after such incidents. During the vigil, family and community members criticized the police for not releasing body camera footage of the shooting. They chanted demands for transparency and justice for Lepe. Kane County officials announced that footage would not be available for at least 72 hours as part of the investigation process. In response to the release of unclear images from the incident, Lepe's family expressed frustration. They feel the timing and nature of the information released by the police is suspicious. The vigil culminated with a march down Indian Trail Road, where participants continued to chant for justice for Lepe.