Teen charged in fatal Near West Side shooting of 7-year-old Jai'mani Amir Rivera

Chicago's top police officer announced Friday evening that a teenager has been charged in the broad daylight murder of a 7-year-old boy earlier this week on the Near West Side.

The 16-year-old was charged with first-degree murder for the shooting of Jai'mani Amir Rivera around 3 p.m. Tuesday near his apartment complex in the 2300 block of West Jackson Boulevard, police Supt. . Larry Snelling told reporters.

Jai'mani was leaving his home when he was struck in the chest by gunfire coming from outside the complex, according to Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner's office. Responding officers rendered aid to the boy and rushed him to Stroger Hospital in a police car, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The teenage suspect was arrested Thursday in the 1800 block of West Monroe Street, a few blocks from the scene of the shooting. He was charged as a juvenile and was wanted on two warrants at the time of his arrest, police said. A detention hearing was set for Saturday.

Law enforcement sources said Jai'Mani may have been shot with a rifle, and Mayor Brandon Johnson said the weapon used in the attack was illegal.

“We've had enough,” Johnson said Tuesday at a news conference outside the hospital with Snelling.

“We’re not pointing fingers at anyone,” Johnson added. “We all need to get to work and decide what kind of city we ultimately want to be: a city where kids can get up, walk, bike and play, or a city that allowed guns in in this city to terrorize. We.”

Snelling said officers were canvassing the area and looking for video evidence to help identify the shooter. At a vigil near the site of the shooting Wednesday, more than 100 people gathered to remember Jai'mani and call for action.

His aunt, Vanessa Rivera, described him as “outgoing” and said he had just received a jersey for the upcoming football season with the number he wanted: seven. “All I ask is is justice,” she said.

The reward for information leading to the suspect's identification was at least $16,000. On Thursday, police said a person of interest was in custody, without providing further details.

The fatal shooting follows a violent Father's Day weekend that left 72 injured, including a 13-year-old boy killed in North Lawndale.

Earlier this week, Snelling said 172 minors had been victims of gun violence this year. Jai'Mani is the eighth child age 15 or younger to be shot this year, according to Sun-Times homicide data.

“It is unfortunate that a mother and father, who are doing what they are supposed to do for their 7 year old and raising their child, that their child cannot even go out on the sidewalk without being hit by gunfire. random fire,” Snelling said during Tuesday's news conference.

A GoFundMe campaign set up by Jai'Mani's family had raised more than $28,000 of a goal of $50,000 as of Friday evening.