By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times
Jamal Joiner | Chicago Police
A purported gang member already awaiting trial for another murder has been charged in the deadly shooting that claimed the life of 7-year-old Amari Brown last July 4th weekend.
Amari was killed after watching fireworks with his father on the sidewalk shortly before midnight in Humboldt Park in the 1100 block of North Harding.
Jamal Joiner told someone that he and Rasheed Martin–-members of the Black Flag faction of the Four Corner Hustlers–-were aiming at a rival when a bullet pierced Amari’s chest, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Jamie Santini told Judge Peggy Chiampas on Thursday.
The gang members had been feuding for several months, and had had shootouts earlier that day, as well as on April 17, 2015, and May 23, 2015, Santini said.
Joiner is currently being held without bond in Cook County Jail for a murder charge stemming from the April 17, 2015 incident.
Amari Brown | photo provided
Joiner admitted to his friend that he and Martin fired their guns on July 4th because a rival had shot at them earlier, and he knew that Amari had been hit, Santini said.
Just days after Amari was killed, Joiner was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder for the April 17 shooting that left 36-year-old Courtney Jackson dead in Humboldt Park, police said at the time.
Police said Jackson and a 35-year-old man were in a car in the 1000 block of North Springfield about 10:50 p.m. when Joiner walked up with a handgun and fired several shots in their direction before running away.
Jackson, shot in the chest, died hours later at a hospital. The other man was struck in the neck, but survived.
Martin was arrested for Amari’s murder last summer after he fled to Wisconsin. The 21-year-old is also being held without bond.
A 27-year-old woman was also shot in the chest on July 4, but survived, Santini said. A man in his 20s was also injured, prosecutors said last year.
Rasheed Martin | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.
Witnesses saw Joiner and Martin firing their weapons before running from the scene, Santini said.
After Martin was arrested, he allegedly implicated himself and Joiner.
Chiampas ordered Joiner, 21, held without bond for Amari’s murder.
In the other case Joiner is charged with, 36-year-old Courtney Jackson was shot in the head while in a car in the 1000 block of North Springfield.
Another man was also injured when, prosecutors said, Joiner walked up to them and starting shooting. That man survived.
Joiner also has convictions for robbery and drug offenses.