Childhood friend of teen killed in shooting reflects loss

Seaford, Del. – At around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, Delaware State Police responded to German Road for a crash. First responders took the driver to a hospital for apparent gun-shot wounds, where he would pass away from his injuries. Troopers have identified the teenage victim as Jacob Rinier Jr. of Laurel as the victim in the shooting.

Ziyaire Ayres, a Seaford High School junior, lives nearby and said he grew up with Rinier. He said he wasn’t home at the time, but was “shocked” when he received a call about the shooting.

“Things barely be going on around here, it’s like, really a quiet neighborhood. So when that happened I was just really shocked,” he said.

Ayres said although they weren’t especially close, him and Rinier were still friends. He said he was speaking to him just a couple days before he passed, asking him if he was going to a party. He said Rinier couldn’t “because he had to go to work.” According to Rinier’s obituary, he was a hard worker at a local McDonald’s and a straight-A student his junior year in the HVAC program at Sussex Tech High School.

“He was a calm kid, I’ll say like energetic, positive. He would do anything for anybody,” Ayres said. “It hurt everybody … like it’s just painful to see.”

Ayres says he has suffered loss in his own life and his message to Reiner’s family is:

“Long live Jacob, forever in our hearts. And I’m sorry for your loss. And I hope things get better in your life. Everything ain’t supposed to be easy. We all lose somebody and this is critical. So I know how y’all feel.”

WMDT reached out to Sussex Technical High School, where Jacob was enrolled as a junior, and to a family member for comment.

Troopers say they have arrested 19-year-old Omar Vidro-Pacheco in connection with the shooting and charged with first-degree murder. Troopers also have an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Darrin West who is still at large. Both are Seaford residents.

DSP encourages anyone with any information to call  Detective B. McDerby at (302) 741-2821 about the case or call Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333. Anyone with knowledge of West’s whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1 or contact McDerby or DSP.