Bryce M. Stiff, a 33-year-old African American male, was tragically shot to death in Aurora, Illinois, on March 7, 2015. Stiff was driving with a 21-year-old male passenger in the 200 block of South LaSalle Street when they heard gunshots. A bullet struck Stiff in the shoulder, causing him to lose control of his vehicle. He attempted to drive to a hospital but collided with a Jeep on Lake Street. Stiff's car went over a terrace and came to rest in a parking lot, while the Jeep hit a telephone pole. Stiff was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at 2:58 a.m. An autopsy confirmed that he died from the gunshot wound, not from injuries sustained in the crash. The 21-year-old passenger was unharmed, and the driver of the Jeep suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The Aurora police did not believe the attack was random and launched an investigation into the shooting. Bryce Stiff's death marked the second murder in Aurora in 2015. His mother, Millvenia Stiff Goodman, was devastated by the loss and attended his funeral services at Inner Court Worship Cathedral Church of God in Christ in Montgomery, Illinois. Friends and family gathered to mourn and remember Stiff, who was known for his love of the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.
Years later, an arrest warrant was issued for Robert T. McBride, who was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Bryce Stiff's death. McBride, 43, was accused of shooting and killing Stiff on March 7, 2015. A judge set McBride's bail at $2 million, and he was due in court on May 31, 2023. The investigation into Stiff's murder continued, with authorities seeking any information that could lead to further developments in the case.
