AURORA IL - Alfred Soto charged with murder in fatal shooting at Illegal Beaner Latin American Club

A 48-year-old Aurora man has been charged with murder in connection to the shooting death of a 31-year-old man from North Aurora this week at a social club on Aurora's East Side.

Alfred Soto, of the 700 block of Iowa Avenue, is now charged with first-degree murder after Martiniano Alvaraz, of the 100 block of Laurel Drive in North Aurora, died from injuries sustained during the shooting Monday at Aurora's Latin American Club.

At about 6:40 p.m. Monday, Aurora police responded to the club in the 1300 block of Dearborn Avenue and found Alvarez just inside one of the entrances with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a news release.

Soto and two of his friends got to the bar before Alvarez, according to the police department's preliminary investigation.

The three men were apparently drinking at the bar, having what appeared to be a normal conversation with Alvarez, when Soto was seen getting up from the bar and walking toward the front door, according to police. He told Alvarez to come with him, then as Alvarez walked toward the door, Soto allegedly took out a handgun and shot the man several times, police said.

Soto then left the bar, got into a white pickup truck and drove westbound from the scene, according to police. Soto was later taken into custody without incident at his home.

Police say they have not yet established a definite motive in the shooting.

Aurora Fire Department paramedics transported Alvarez to an Aurora hospital after the shooting, where he later died despite medical efforts, according to police.

Police spoke with subjects remaining in the bar about the incident, said police Lt. Jeff Wiencek.

The Kane County State's Attorney's Office is helping police with the investigation.

Police do not believe the shooting is related to a December robbery at the same East Side social club, said spokesman Dan Ferrelli. In that attack, assailants beat two men in the club, and one, a 79-year-old man, died from complications tied to the injuries.

Club officials could not be reached for comment. The Aurora Latin-American Club Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, according to GuideStar records.