A 7-year-old boy who was shot and killed on Chicago's Near West Side earlier this week was running an errand for his mother when he was shot by a teenager, prosecutors said.
Chicago police announced Friday that a 16-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the killing of Jaymani Amir Rivera. The boy, who identifies himself as Raysean Comer, made his initial appearance in George N. Layton Criminal Court on Saturday.
While the trial was taking place, Jaimani's family gathered outside the court holding photos of the seven-year-old boy.
“You have taken my baby's whole life away,” said an emotional Vanessa Rivera, Jaimani's aunt. “My baby never got to live his life. He was supposed to be a football player. He was so happy to play football.”
Prosecutors said in court that the 7-year-old boy's mother was at work when she called him to ask him to bring a pot to a neighbor's house, after which Jaimani was shot as he left the building, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Ann McCord said.
A 7-year-old child was shot and killed in Chicago's Near West Side neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
Prosecutors said Rayshawn was seen on surveillance video before, during and after the shooting at Oakley Square Apartments, and witnesses at the scene called 911 after hearing two gunshots.
“The witness then saw a gunman with a rifle standing next to her vehicle on Oakley Street and firing more rounds into the west side of the victim's apartment,” McCord said.
Police previously said the weapon used in the shooting has yet to be recovered, indicating it was likely an assault rifle.
Assistant state attorneys said multiple officers and witnesses recognized the boy from surveillance footage. Another witness told police he was playing cards with Rayshawn after the murder when the 16-year-old talked about the killing, saying “he'll have nightmares about what he did,” prosecutors said.
“I didn't mean to do that,” Rayshawn responded, according to court documents.
The boy was placed on electronic monitoring in May for the robbery charge, but authorities said he disconnected the device in June and failed to appear in court twice in two separate cases.
As of Saturday, investigators were still investigating a motive as Jaimani's family prepared for his burial.
“This child is still living in solitary confinement … breathing, eating while my baby is buried six feet underground. It's crazy,” Rivera said.
