Teen charged in 'senseless' fatal shooting of 7-year-old boy in Chicago: police

A teenager now faces murder charges after a 7-year-old boy was fatally shot in the chest during a random act of gun violence in Chicago, police said Friday.

The victim, Jai'mani Amir Rivera, had just left his apartment and was on the sidewalk Tuesday afternoon when gunshots rang out, police said. Responding officers rendered aid, then rushed him in their patrol 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 victim's death, said Friday Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling. .

Police have not released the suspect's name because he is a juvenile. He was taken into custody Thursday, less than 48 hours after the shooting, Snelling said.

Detectives “did a great job holding this violent offender accountable and getting him off the streets so he couldn't destroy another family,” Snelling said during a news briefing.

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 Ursetti. An anonymous tip led to the identification of the teenager, who was believed to be the only offender, she said.

Thirteen shotgun shell casings were recovered in the investigation, Ursetti said. The firearm has not been found, although police believe it was an assault rifle, she said.

It's unclear why the shooting occurred, although Jai'mani was not the intended target, Ursetti said.

“We all understand that this makes no sense and that is why it is senseless. We cannot give you a confirmed reason as to why this happened,” she said during the press briefing . “There's no justification or explanation that would make things better. But that's what we're talking about.”

The suspect had an active arrest warrant for failure to appear in court following an unrelated arrest, police said.

Members of the Chicago Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force were able to locate the teen at his Chicago residence, where he was arrested Thursday afternoon, Snelling said.

An unrelated stolen gun was found at the scene of the arrest, police said.

A juvenile detention hearing is scheduled for Saturday.