Arrest Made in Raven Cooper Homicide
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: September 13, 2012
Police have made an arrest in connection with the murder of Rochester teen Raven Cooper.
20-year-old Chauncey Stewart has been charged with murder for the shooting death of 16-year-old Raven Cooper.
Cooper died in the hospital after being shot on Bay Street in July.
Raven Cooper's family walked out of court with mixed emotions. They watched Stewart be arraigned for Cooper's murder.
"I can't have my son back. That's the truth, but him being here, that right there is a big relief. Though it puts a knot in my stomach to see him, I'm glad they got him," said Mahogany Dodd, Raven Cooper's mother.
Stewart was arrested Wednesday on Troop Street when officers recognized him as a suspect in Cooper's shooting. Stewart is charged with second degree murder. Police believe Stewart fought with Cooper right before the shooting.
"We screamed. Just joy that my son can at least rest in peace, and we can be a little settled, as far as him not walking these streets anymore," said Dodd.
Both police and Cooper's family agree that the community played an important role in this arrest.
"That's the thing that is so important today is to have people cooperate. When they cooperate, we can go out and do marvelous things and bring these cases to a closure, so the community was a very big part in this," said Captain Lynde Johnston, Rochester Police Department.
Cooper's family say all they can do is wait for justice.
"It's been real hard. It's real painful and I just really hope no other mother has to go through this anymore. It needs to stop in Rochester," said Dodd.
In court, all eyes were on Stewart. The judge made him apologize to the courtroom after an outburst. He will appear back in court on September 18.
20-year-old Chauncey Stewart has been charged with murder for the shooting death of 16-year-old Raven Cooper.
Cooper died in the hospital after being shot on Bay Street in July.
Raven Cooper's family walked out of court with mixed emotions. They watched Stewart be arraigned for Cooper's murder.
"I can't have my son back. That's the truth, but him being here, that right there is a big relief. Though it puts a knot in my stomach to see him, I'm glad they got him," said Mahogany Dodd, Raven Cooper's mother.
Stewart was arrested Wednesday on Troop Street when officers recognized him as a suspect in Cooper's shooting. Stewart is charged with second degree murder. Police believe Stewart fought with Cooper right before the shooting.
"We screamed. Just joy that my son can at least rest in peace, and we can be a little settled, as far as him not walking these streets anymore," said Dodd.
Both police and Cooper's family agree that the community played an important role in this arrest.
"That's the thing that is so important today is to have people cooperate. When they cooperate, we can go out and do marvelous things and bring these cases to a closure, so the community was a very big part in this," said Captain Lynde Johnston, Rochester Police Department.
Cooper's family say all they can do is wait for justice.
"It's been real hard. It's real painful and I just really hope no other mother has to go through this anymore. It needs to stop in Rochester," said Dodd.
In court, all eyes were on Stewart. The judge made him apologize to the courtroom after an outburst. He will appear back in court on September 18.
