White Plains Man Charged With Murder of 21-Year-Old in Port Chester

A White Plains man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the shooting of a 21-year-old man this August in Port Chester.

Jaerue Williams, 27, of 59 Old Mamaroneck Road, was arraigned Thursday on three felony charges including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Investigators believe Williams shot 21-year-old Wilfredo Rivera in the chest at close range near 16 S Regent St. at about 12:15 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2012.

Friends took Rivera to Greenwich Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to an announcement from the Westchester County District Attorney's office. Port Chester Police handled the investigation and eventually identified Williams, who was already in custody for an alleged parole violation, as the shooter.

The DA's office identified Williams as a "career criminal", whose parole violation stemmed from two felony convictions in 2010. Williams was also indicted on Sept. 26 in connection to a home burglary in Larchmont. Investigators say the Larchmont break-in took place the day after the shooting and was captured on video surveillance.

“Collaborative detective work in several jurisdictions linked this defendant to both crimes which occurred within a day of each other," said Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

Williams faces burglary, petty larceny and criminal mischief charges in connection to the Larchmont burglary.

The next court date in the murder case is Jan. 22. Williams faces up to 25 years in prison on the second-degree murder charge and up to 15 years in prison on the burglary charge.

Assistant District Attorney Wendy Parra of the Superior Court Trial Division is prosecuting the murder case, Assistant District Attorney Timothy Ward, Chief of the Career Criminal Bureau, is prosecuting the burglary case.