June 22nd 2024.
According to Cook County prosecutors, the suspect in the shooting that tragically took the life of 7-year-old Jai'Mani Amir Rivera has been identified with the help of extensive surveillance footage, multiple acquaintances, police officers, and two eyewitnesses. During a detention hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, authorities informed a judge that 16-year-old Raysean Comer, who was already wanted for two juvenile arrests and had two more cases pending, was recognized in still photos by three Chicago police officers who had interacted with him in the past.
Comer, who resides in the Henry Horner Homes, has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder in connection to Jai'Mani's death. At the hearing, Judge Antara Nath Rivera ordered that Comer be held in juvenile custody throughout the duration of the case. According to prosecutors, Jai'Mani had left his building complex on West Jackson Boulevard around 3 p.m. on Tuesday to deliver a cooking pot to his neighbor for his mother. Tragically, as he stepped outside, he was struck in the back by a rifle shot.
Assistant State's Attorney Anne McCord Rodgers shared in court that the child had a single spot of blood on his white T-shirt and managed to walk back to his building's lobby before collapsing. The police were immediately called, and they rushed Jai'Mani to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later. An autopsy revealed that the boy had been shot in the torso, and the Cook County medical examiner's office ruled his death a homicide. However, authorities have not disclosed who they believe the intended target was.
During a peace march on West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago, Vanessa Rivera, Jai'Mani's aunt, was seen holding a Spider-Man toy while being comforted by others. The heartbreaking loss of her nephew has sparked outrage and calls for justice in the community. Responding police officers tried to save the young boy's life by applying pressure to his chest and rushing him to the hospital in a police vehicle. Despite their efforts, Jai'Mani could not be saved.
Rodgers shared that there was an abundance of surveillance footage from various cameras that captured Comer before, during, and after the shooting, some clearly showing his face. The footage showed him walking to the area of Crane High School, where he took out a rifle from his pants and fired multiple shots towards the building at 2325 W. Jackson Blvd. The authorities recovered 13 spent .223-caliber shell casings from the rear parking lot of Crane Medical Prep High School, and they are currently awaiting DNA test results on the casings. The caliber of the bullets is typically associated with AK-47-style rifles.
The day after Jai'Mani's death, the police released still photos of the suspect in a bulletin, seeking help from the public to identify him. It wasn't long before three police officers recognized Comer as the gunman in the photos. Two of those officers had personally arrested Comer in March of 2023 for criminal trespass to a vehicle. Additionally, authorities received two other tips, including one from a woman who claimed to have witnessed a teenager firing a rifle near her car before fleeing the scene.
When Comer was arrested at his home, which is about a mile from the shooting scene, the authorities found a loaded 9mm handgun that had been tossed out of a window. This was noted in his arrest report. After reviewing all the evidence presented, the judge approved the detention petition, stating that the prosecution had provided clear and convincing evidence that Comer was the gunman and that he posed a threat to the public's safety.
The tragic shooting of Jai'Mani on Father's Day weekend has sparked outrage and prompted both Police Superintendent Dennis Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson to speak out against the senseless violence. At a press conference outside Stroger Hospital, Snelling expressed his outrage, stating that the random shooting of a 7-year-old is unacceptable. He added that this wasn't a case where the parents didn't know where their child was, as Jai'Mani was simply walking out of his residence when he was struck by the gunfire.
Comer is expected to appear in court again on Tuesday. Our hearts go out to Jai'Mani's family and loved ones during this difficult time. Sam Charles also contributed to this report.
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