Aurora man charged with attempted murder

By Erika Wurst For Chronicle Media

John Speery, 300 block of Grant Street, Aurora

A 55-year-old Aurora man has been charged with attempted murder and several other felonies after allegedly shooting an ex-roommate March 4 and leading Aurora police on a high-speed chase throughout the city.

John Speery, 300 block of Grant Street, is facing single counts of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated fleeing and eluding police in connection with the shooting of a 56-year-old man, according to Aurora Police Department spokesman Dan Ferrelli,

Speery drove his 1988 Cadillac Brougham to the victim’s house in the 300 block of Jackson Street at around 4:40 p.m., saw the victim was in the driveway, and called out to him, police said.

Then, Speery allegedly pulled out a handgun, fired a single shot toward the victim, and struck him in the neck before fleeing from the scene in his vehicle.

The shooting seems to have stemmed from a personal dispute between Speery and the victim, police said. They would not comment on what the dispute was about.

Following the shooting, a responding officer spotted Speery’s vehicle in the area of Ohio and Grove Streets and attempted to pull him over, Ferrelli said.

When he refused to stop, Speery then led officers on a 14-minute chase through much of the city’s east and northeast sides at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, police said. Stop sticks were used by officer to immobilize Speery’s vehicle, but the attempts were unsuccessful.

Speery eventually lost control of his car and slammed into an electric pole at Claim Street and Lincoln Avenue. He was taken into custody without further incident.

The shooting victim was transported to an Aurora hospital where he was listed in stable condition, according to Ferrelli. He is expected to survive.

Speery was treated and released from a different Aurora hospital where he was taken for minor injuries that resulted from the crash. His bail was set at $500,000. Police said they have not ruled out additional charges. There were no other injuries in connection with the shooting or pursuit.

 

 

 

 

— Aurora man charged with attempted murder  —