Teen charged in 7-year-old's murder to be transferred to Cook County jail on 18th birthday

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The teenager accused of shooting and killing a 7-year-old boy will be transferred to a Cook County jail on his 18th birthday.

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Raysean Comer, was 16 when he was charged for first-degree murder and for personally discharging a firearm that caused death.

Jai'mani Amir Rivera, 7, was shot and killed by a stray bullet on the West Side in June 2024..

Last year a judge ordered Comer to remain behind bars.

"You took my baby's whole life away," the victim's aunt, Vanessa Rivera, said at the time. "My baby didn't get to live his life."

Thursday marks Comer's 18th birthday. A judge denied his request to be allowed to stay at the juvenile detention center. He was set to be transferred to a Cook County jail.

Prosecutors said Jai'mani was taking a cooking pot to a next-door neighbor at the Oakley Square Apartment Complex for his mother when shots rang out.

A security camera captured the boy's movements minutes after he was shot in the back. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died.

Investigators said a 9-1-1 caller, several anonymous tips, surveillance video showing Comer run away from the scene, along with information from two Chicago police officers familiar with Comer, helped identified the suspect through a police bulletin.

READ MORE | Teen charged with murder in shooting death of 7-year-old boy on Near West Side, Chicago police say