On Monday November 14th, 2016, the Rock Island Police Department responded to a call of shots fired in the area of 12th Street and 10th Avenue and upon arrival, located two victims.  The first victim, 37 year old Richard B. Smith Jr., had sustained an apparent gunshot wound and was transported to Unity Point Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The second victim, a 16 year old juvenile, received a non-life threatening gunshot wound.  This juvenile was also transported to Unity Point Medical Center, treated and released.

On Monday, December 18th, 2017 the Rock Island Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Aaron D. Ellis, D.O.B. 09/20/91, charging him with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm in relation to this case.  Bond has been set at $1,000,000 cash.

Aaron D. Ellis has also been charged with three additional counts of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm stemming from a shooting which occurred August 7th, 2016, in the area of 16th Street and 2nd Avenue in which three subjects sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds.  All three were treated at Unity Point Medical Center and later released.  Bond for these charges is also set at $1,000,000 cash, concurrently.

Aaron Ellis is currently incarcerated on unrelated charge(s) and held within the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Oxford, WI.

The Rock Island Police Department was assisted by the following agencies during the course of this investigation:

Davenport Police Department

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Quad City Federal Gang Task Force

Rock Island County State's Attorney's Office

Rock Island County Coroner's Office

Mercer County State's Attorney's Office

Mercer County Sheriff's Department