Suspect charged with murder after shooting of Somers NY mother, two boys

Fernando Jimenez, the man suspected of shooting two teenage boys, one fatally, and the boys’ mother were charged Tuesday night with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.

During a brief arraignment in Somers Town Court, Jimenez, 40, slowly staggered to the defense table wearing a blue jump suit and a cast on his left arm. Due to the seriousness of the charges, which include criminal possession of a weapon, there was no immediate opportunity for Jimenez to enter a guilty or not guilty plea.

During the hearing, Somers Town Judge Michael McDermott ordered Jimenez held in jail pending trial. McDermott also issued two orders of protection, barring Jimenez from contacting anyone involved in the case. However, these individuals were not publicly named during Tuesday’s hearing.

The high-level charges carry the possibility of life in prison if Jimenez is convicted of a single murder.

Tuesday’s hearing capped a turbulent 24 hours for the Somers community. Earlier in the day, officials identified Michael Raimondi, a 10th grader at Somers High School, as the shooting’s lone fatality. He was 15 years old.

Michael’s brother, Matthew, a 13-year-old high school student from the same district, was also shot. The boys’ mother, 38, was also shot. Her name had not been released as of Tuesday evening. They were both taken to hospital and early on were determined to be in critical condition, although no updates on their health had been announced.

Hours after the Raimondi family was shot in their Baldwin Place home Monday night, police launched a vigorous manhunt to track down Jimenez. Somer residents were on edge for most of the day, and many area schools were on lockdown or adjusted security protocols in anticipation of his arrest. He was finally arrested on Tuesday morning.

Asher Stockler is a reporter for the USA Today Network New York. You can send him an email at [email protected]. Reach him safely: [email protected].

(This story has been updated to add photos and a video.)