Chicago police charge 16-year-old Raysean Comer as an adult for shooting and murdering 7-year-old Jai’mani Amir Rivera on the Near West Side

CHICAGO (WLS) — A 16-year-old suspect appeared in court Saturday and was charged as an adult with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 7-year-old Jai’mani Amir Rivera earlier this week.

Rivera was shot by a stray bullet on the West Side on Tuesday. Raysean Comer, 16, faces charges of first-degree murder and discharging a firearm that caused the perpetrator’s death.

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Rivera’s grieving family left court on Saturday afternoon, shortly after a judge ordered Comer to remain behind bars.

“They took my baby’s whole life away,” said the victim’s aunt, Vanessa Rivera. “My baby didn’t have the opportunity to live his life.”

In court, prosecutors said Jai’mani had just taken a cooking pot to a neighbor in the Oakley Square Apartment Complex to get his mother when shots were fired. A security camera recorded the boy’s movements minutes after he was shot in the back. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

“The only thing that matters to them is Jai’ Mani and getting justice for him,” said community activist Saleshea Peterson.

At the scene of the shooting, detectives found 13 shell casings in the parking lot of Crane High School, just a few feet from Oakley and Jackson.

Investigators said a caller to 9-1-1, several anonymous tips, surveillance video showing Comer running from the scene and information from two Chicago police officers familiar with Comer helped identify the suspect through a police bulletin. All information pointed to the teen, including a witness who said she played cards with Comer and others after the murder.

“Another person who was playing along told the defendant that he would have nightmares about what he did, meaning that he had killed people,” said Anne McCord, Cook County Assistant District Attorney. “In response, the defendant said, ‘I didn’t mean to do that.'”

Comer was arrested at his home on Thursday. Police found 13 rifle cartridges at the scene but were unable to locate the weapon used in the shooting. During the arrest, they found a stolen gun that was not used in Tuesday’s shooting.

Authorities said the teenager already faces criminal charges for car theft and aggravated robbery and has an arrest warrant out for him after he cut off his electronic ankle bracelet.

Despite their enormous grief, the family continues to plead for an end to the gun violence.

READ MORE | Teenager charged with murder after shooting 7-year-old boy on Near West Side, Chicago police say

The charges were announced by Chicago police on Friday.

Police said 16-year-old Comer is currently believed to be the only suspect in the shooting. A motive for the shooting was not known, and police said he may not have had anyone in his sights when he allegedly fired randomly and aimlessly with an assault rifle.

“We cannot give you a motive for this perpetrator’s actions. I wish I could tell you more, but that is the frustration we feel up here,” said Police Chief Antionette Ursitti.

Police believe Rivera was about 90 meters away from the suspected shooter when he was hit by the gunfire.

“It is absolutely unbearable and heartbreaking that innocent children are dying in our city,” said Chicago Police Commissioner Larry Snelling.

Comer is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday.