The man accused of shooting his girlfriend and her two teenage sons in Somers, killing one of the boys, pleaded not guilty Thursday as the victims’ distraught relatives looked on.
On his 41st birthday, Fernando Jimenez Meza was arraigned in Westchester County Court on charges including second-degree murder in the Oct. 28 killing of 15-year-old Michael Raimondi in his family’s apartment on Route 6 in Somers.
Christina Raimondi and her younger son, Matthew, were also shot in the head and continue to recover from their injuries.
Fernando Jimenez Meza on Dec. 5, 2024, at his arraignment in Westchester County Court on charges including second-degree murder. He is accused of shooting Christina Raimondi and her two sons, Michael and Matthew, killing Michael, on Oct. 28, 2024, in the Raimondis’ apartment in Somers.
Shortly before the shooting, Matthew Raimondi alerted his grandparents that Jimenez was hurting his mother. They rushed over from Yorktown only to hear some of the gunshots and see a gun-toting Jimenez rush out, they told investigators. Jimenez was taken into custody about 12 hours later after hiding out in a real estate office in Putnam Valley.
Christina’s parents and three sisters attended the arraignment with a dozen other relatives and friends, several wearing “In Loving Memory” T-shirts with Michael’s picture. Afterwards, several spoke of the heartbreak to the close-knit family and their pursuit of justice for all three victims, particularly Michael.
T-shirt in memory of Michael Raimondi, who was killed Oct. 28, 2024, when his mother’s boyfriend, Fernando Jimenez Meza, allegedly shot him, his brother and mother in their Somers apartment. Relatives of the Raimondis wore the shirts at Jimenez’ arraignment on murder, assault and weapon charges Dec. 5, 2024.
“He was a sweet little person, full of kindness,” his grandmother, Miriam Cordova, said. “He loved animals and helping people”
They said that Michael should have been getting his learner’s permit when he turned 16 in two weeks. Instead of celebrating his birthday, they’ll be visiting his grave.
Community steps up for Raimondi family after Somers shooting
One of Christina’s sisters, Melissa Burstell, said their lives have been shattered, but that they were so thankful for the outpouring of support from the Somers community.
A GoFundMe page to raise money for the family has received more than 2,600 donations totaling $180,000 as of Thursday morning.
She said it was notable that while they filled half the courtroom, it didn’t appear anyone was there to support Jimenez.
More: Fernando Jimenez charged with murder, attempted murder after Somers shooting
They declined to talk about Jimenez, or even mention his name, other than to scoff at his lawyer’s opposition to a media request for a camera in the court because it might bring harm to his two children or to him in the county jail. Jimenez should have thought of that before he shot Christina and the boys, one of Christina’s brothers-in-law said.
Jimenez’s lawyer, Kaitlin Roll, declined to comment on the case later.
In addition to second-degree murder, Jimenez is charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and menacing. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison on the murder charge.
More: Fernando Jimenez, charged in Somers shooting, is in US illegally after 2004 removal: ICE
After the family spoke with prosecutors Nadine Nagler and James Bavero outside the courtroom, Armando Cordova, Michael’s grandfather, hugged them and several of his relatives.
“I just want to ask the community to keep praying for my family,” he told a reporter moments later.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Somers shooting defendant Fernando Jimenez Meza pleads not guilty
