2 Dead, 1 Critical In Two Brothers Roundhouse Shooting In Aurora

AURORA, IL — Two people are dead, including the man police believe to be the shooter, and one person was in critical condition following a shooting Saturday night at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, police said.

Officials confirmed late Saturday that three people were shot during an event inside the brew pub, 205 N. Broadway.

Police responded to multiple 911 calls around 9:10 p.m. to find three people with gunshot wounds. Officers began life-saving measures before Aurora paramedics took two victims to area hospitals.

Police said one victim, a woman, was taken to an area hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. A second victim, a man, was taken to an area hospital, where he is in critical condition, according to police.

A man believed to be the shooter was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Detectives and evidence technicians responded to Two Brothers, and police said a preliminary investigation suggests that all three people knew each other, and the shooting appears to be a domestic violence-related incident.

"At this time, we believe there is no active threat to the community," police said in an update after 11 p.m. Saturday.

The Kane County Coroner's Office was requested to the scene, and autopsies are scheduled to determine the cause and manner of death. The coroner will also confirm the identities of the victim and apparent shooter, according to police.

"Our hearts are heavy tonight. Members of our community were senselessly shot while simply trying to enjoy a night out, and our entire city feels the weight of that violence," Police Chief Matt Thomas said in a statement. "On behalf of the Aurora Police Department, I want the victims and their families to know we are standing with you and doing everything we can to make sure you have answers."

While the investigation remains ongoing, police encouraged the public to come forward with any information. Anyone with information is asked to call the Aurora Police Department’s Investigations Division at 630-256-5500.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000 or online at www.p3tips.com/135. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of felony crime offenders and fugitives.

Aurora police initially issued an alert around 9:30 p.m. saying police were on the scene of a shooting. In the comments, patrons described hearing the gunshots, with one saying they and their group "ran for our lives," abandoning their belongings. Another described hiding under a table after shots rang out.

According to social media posts, a live band was scheduled to perform from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Two Brothers Roundhouse.

The band, Beyond the Blonde, shared a social media post Sunday morning saying that "Last night was terrifying, sad, and absolutely shocking. Our hearts are with the families and friends of those lost to such senseless violence. No one should ever have to experience that kind of fear or heartbreak."

On Sunday morning, Two Brothers Roundhouse issued a statement saying it temporarily closed in the wake of the violence. Later, in an update, staff shared that the dining room reopened at 3 p.m. Sunday, and the business will be back to regular hours on Tuesday. It is closed on Monday.

"We are profoundly saddened by the violence that occurred on Saturday November 22nd," Roundhouse staff said in the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. The safety, comfort, and well-being of our guests, staff, and community remain our highest priorities. We are deeply grateful for the swift and professional response from Aurora Police and Fire Department and all the emergency personnel. We appreciate the compassion, patience, and understanding shown by our guests and community during this difficult moment."

In the update, the restaurant again expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community, posting, "We are grateful to report that, aside from those directly involved in this incident of domestically-motivated violence, no physical injuries to our guests nor team members have been reported."