After a 7-year-old boy was shot dead in the chest in an arbitrary act of gun violence in Chicago on Friday, police said, the juvenile is now being charged with murder.
Shots were fired Tuesday afternoon while Jai’mani Amir Rivera, the victim, was walking down the sidewalk after leaving his apartment, according to the police.
He was confirmed dead at the hospital after responding cops gave him medical attention and hurried him there in their squad car, according to the police.
Superintendent of Chicago Police Larry Snelling announced on Friday that a 16-year-old suspect has been charged with four counts related to the shooting, including first-degree murder and first-degree murder for directly firing a handgun, which resulted in the victim’s death.
Because the suspect is a minor, the police have not disclosed his name. Less than 48 hours after the shooting, on Thursday, he was placed under arrest, according to Snelling.
At a press conference, Snelling stated that the detectives “did excellent work to hold this violent offender accountable and take him off the streets so that he can’t destroy another family.”
Thanks to camera footage and community assistance, police were able to record the suspect’s activities both prior to and following the shooting, according to Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti. The adolescent, who is thought to be the only offender, was identified with the help of an anonymous tip, she said.
According to Ursitti, thirteen gun casings were found over the course of the investigation.
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Police suspect the gun to have been an assault rifle, but it has not been found, she said.Ursitti stated that although Jai’mani was not the intended target, it is unknown why the incident happened.
During the press briefing, she stated, “We all understand this is senseless and this is why it’s senseless — we can’t give you a confirmed motive for why this happened. There is no justification or explanation that would make it any better. But this is the senselessness that we’re talking about.”
According to authorities, the suspect was wanted on an unrelated arrest warrant for failing to appear in court.
The teenager was apprehended Thursday afternoon at his Chicago home after being tracked down by members of the Chicago police and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals, according to Snelling.
According to authorities, a different stolen firearm was found at the location of the arrest. On Saturday, there will be a hearing regarding juvenile detention.
