Teenager accused of killing Jai'mani Amir Rivera detained pending trial

A teenager accused of fatally shooting a 7-year-old on the Near West Side has been taken into custody while awaiting trial.

Raysean Comer, 16, made his first court appearance Saturday. Comer faces several criminal charges, including first-degree murder and discharging a firearm causing death, in addition to two other charges related to previous warrants, Chicago police said.

Comer was charged as an adult.

He was arrested Thursday, two days after the fatal shooting of 7-year-old Jai'mani Amir Rivera.

Jai'mani had just left his home around 3 p.m. Tuesday in the 2300 block of West Jackson Boulevard when shots were fired, and he was shot in the back, Chicago police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Several witnesses and police officers identified Comer on surveillance video walking toward the area of ​​Jai'mani's home and firing a rifle, according to court documents.

Responding officers rendered aid to the boy and then rushed him to Stroger Hospital in their patrol car. Jai'mani was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after arriving, officials said.

Jai'Mani's mother, Yolanda Berrios, described him as “real-life Spider-Man” and a “daredevil” who was just as likely to sing DD Osama songs as he was to show others his love or to help those who live in the world. community around him. The 7-year-old was about to start soccer this year and asked him every day when it started.

He was bringing a pot to a neighbor when he was shot.

“He was my houseman,” Berrios told the Sun-Times. “He adores. … He would do anything for anyone, he was just that kid.

Berrios said that despite the arrest and charges, the situation remained an “justice” for her.

“He took a piece of me that I will never get back. I have no words for him, I have no remorse for him. He can still eat, he can still breathe, he can still reach out to his family, and my son can't do that. …He took it from us before he could start his life.

She said her main goal now is to keep her son's name alive – she led a peace march yesterday and will make another balloon release at the unveiling of a billboard in his honor Saturday night at the corner of 1st and Cermak.

“We’re going to do everything we can to be together and encourage each other,” Berrios said. “I could be his mother and I could be demolished. He touched other lives too and I need to help these people help me. … We're going to show up and show up for him, we have to do everything for this boy.

More than a dozen rifle shell casings were found at the scene, although the weapon believed to have been used in the shooting was not found, according to Chicago police. A witness told police that Comer said he would have nightmares about what he did and that he “didn't intend to do that,” according to court documents.

While Comer was being taken into custody, a 9mm pistol was thrown from the window of his residence, according to a police report. This weapon has been recovered.

“Jai'Mani's life was taken away from him,” said Chicago Police Supt. » Larry Snelling said. “There is no excuse for this violence.”

A GoFundMe for the family had raised more than $32,000 of a $50,000 goal as of Sunday afternoon.

At least 172 miners have been shot in Chicago this year, according to Snelling. Jai'mani is the eighth child age 15 or younger to be fatally shot this year, according to Sun-Times homicide data.

Comer's next court date is scheduled for Tuesday.