A teenager now faces murder charges after a 7-year-old boy was fatally shot in the chest in a random act of gun violence in Chicago, police announced Friday.
The victim, Jai’mani Amir Rivera, had just left his apartment and was on the sidewalk Tuesday afternoon when shots rang out, police said. Responding officers rendered aid and then rushed him in their squad car to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
A 16-year-old suspect has since been charged with four counts in connection with the shooting, including first-degree murder and first-degree murder for personally discharging a firearm that caused the death of the victim, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Friday.
Police have not released the name of the suspect because he is a juvenile. He was taken into custody on Thursday, less than 48 hours after the shooting, Snelling said.
Detectives “did excellent work to hold this violent offender accountable and take him off the streets so that he can’t destroy another family,” Snelling said during a press briefing.
Chicago police officers investigate the shooting that left 7-year-old Jai’mani Amir Rivera dead at the Oakley Square Apartments, June 18, 2024, in Chicago.
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Police were able to document the suspect’s movements before and after the shooting through video footage and with help from the community, according to Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti. An anonymous tip assisted in identifying the teen, who is believed to be the sole offender, she said.
Thirteen rifle casings were recovered as part of the investigation, Ursitti said. The firearm has not been recovered, though police believe it to have been an assault rifle, she said.
It is unclear why the shooting occurred, though Jai’mani was not the intended target, Ursitti said.
“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,” she said during the press briefing. “There is no justification or explanation that would make it any better. But this is the senselessness that we’re talking about.”
Chicago police officers investigate the shooting that left 7-year-old Jai’mani Amir Rivera dead at the Oakley Square Apartments, June 18, 2024, in Chicago.
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The suspect had an active warrant for failure to appear in court on an unrelated arrest, police said.
Members of the Chicago police and the U.S. Marshals’ Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force were able to locate the teen at his residence in Chicago, where he was arrested Thursday afternoon, Snelling said.
An unrelated stolen weapon was recovered at the scene of the arrest, police said.
A juvenile detention hearing is scheduled for Saturday.
A tragic incident has shaken the city of Chicago as police have charged a teenager in connection with the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old boy. The incident occurred in the South Side neighborhood of Englewood, where young Jaslyn Adams was shot multiple times while sitting in a car with her father at a McDonald’s drive-thru.
The suspect, a 18-year-old male, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. According to police, the shooting was believed to be gang-related, and the suspect allegedly targeted the father of the young girl due to his gang affiliation.
The senseless violence that claimed the life of Jaslyn Adams has sparked outrage and calls for justice in the community. Mayor Lori Lightfoot condemned the shooting as “heinous” and called for swift action to bring the perpetrator to justice.
The tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in Chicago, which has seen a surge in shootings and homicides in recent years. The city has been grappling with a spike in violent crime, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods where poverty and lack of resources contribute to the cycle of violence.
Community leaders and activists have called for greater investment in youth programs, mental health services, and community policing to address the root causes of violence and prevent future tragedies like the shooting of Jaslyn Adams.
As the city mourns the loss of a young life cut short by senseless violence, there is a renewed sense of urgency to address the underlying issues that contribute to gun violence in Chicago. The arrest of the suspect in the fatal shooting of Jaslyn Adams is a step towards justice, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done to create safer communities for all residents.
