UPDATE: 16-year-old arrested for 12-year-old's death

Updated: July 10, 2017 5:20 p.m.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – A 16-year-old is now behind bars for the shooting death of 12-year-old Donavan Ruland.

Ruland was killed in May while riding his ATV in an alley near his home.

Everything Nicole Foster does reminds her of her son Donavan Ruland.

"You know... me coming home from work... 'Mom, how was your day?',” remembers Foster.

Ruland was shot and killed in an alley near his house on 4th St. on May 24th.

"He wasn't supposed to go like this,” says Foster.

Ruland’s parents say their neighbors had surveillance footage that caught the shooting on tape. They believe that helped lead to the arrest.

"If you saw a video of your son being gunned down and three people involved, how would you feel? They could've stopped my son and told him to keep going,” says Ruland’s father, Felix Perez, “How would you want it? Would you want those other kids to be, 'Okay, live the rest of your life, you're 16. Live the rest of your life and do it to another kid.'"

Foster feels that, whether the suspect is charged as a juvenile or an adult, nothing will ever bring Donavan back.

"You still get to see your kid every day, whether it's through glass or through bars. You still get to see your kid. We don't get that luxury anymore," says Foster.

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Updated: July 10, 2017 11:21 a.m.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- A juvenile is charged with the May shooting death of 12-year-old Donavan Ruland.

Winnebago County State's Attorney Joe Bruscato says the name of the 16-year-old will not be released due to the age and that the case is currently in juvenile court.

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Updated: June 1, 2017

UPDATE: ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – A warrant has been issued for a 16-year-old in connection to the shooting death of a 12-year-old boy.

The 16-year-old boy is wanted for first degree murder and attempted armed robbery. Police say due to the suspect’s age, his name and photo is not being released.

On the evening of May 24, police say 12-year-old Donavan Ruland was riding an ATV in the area of 4th Street and 16th Avenue when he was shot in the chest during an apparent attempted robbery.

The incident is still under investigation.

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Updated: May 31, 2017

UPDATE: Friends and family say their goodbyes to a 12-year-old who was shot and killed in Rockford a week ago.

The visitation and funeral for Donavan Ruland was held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Rockford.

Ruland was killed Wednesday, May 24 as he was riding an ATV in an alley off of 16th Avenue. Police say someone tried to rob him and shot him in the chest.

Police are still looking for Ruland's killer.

Family is asking anyone with information to please call police.

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Updated: May 30, 2017

UPDATE: ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Friends and family of the 12-year-old boy who was shot and killed last week in Rockford will say their final goodbyes on May 31.

A visitation will be held for Donovan Ruland at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory on Mulford, according to their website. The funeral will immediately follow.

Ruland was killed May 24 after police say he was riding an ATV in an alley off of 16th Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets. Investigators say he was shot in the chest by someone trying to rob him.

No one is in custody at this time. Police say any information could help them in their investigation.

"Any information that anyone develops, it could be as simple as hear say word on the street whatever it may be if anyone has any information at all that would help us figure out what happened that night and to really help the families would be greatly appreciated," says Assistant Deputy Chief Mike Dalke with the Rockford Police Department.

Police say no piece of information is too small. Anyone with information is asked to call Rockford Police immediately.

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Update: May 26, 2017

UPDATE: ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- The Rockford community continues to grieve after a violent week throughout the city. Two people were shot and killed Wednesday night, including a 12-year-old boy.

23 News has learned that Donavan Ruland was a student at RESA Middle School.

Police say Ruland was riding an ATV in an alley off 16th Avenue when someone tried to rob him. That's when investigators believe the 12-year-old boy was shot in the chest.

Friday was the last day of school for many Rockford Public School students, including those at RESA Middle School. District officials say they offered counseling services for students dealing with Ruland's death.

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Updated: 6:35 p.m. May 25, 2017

UPDATE: ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- Donavan Ruland's family believes Donavan was murdered when someone tried stealing his ATV.

Donavan's parents also believe the shooter to be a kid who lives in their neighborhood. Donavan is described as a fun loving prankster and he loved school and his family with his entire being. Donavan's parents say this murder was a senseless act by a disgusting person and ask anyone who knows anything to come forward with information to police or them directly.

"Anybody that has the answers, because we have questions, please tell us call. if you don't want to call the police. Somebody knows who did this to my baby, somebody knows,” said Felix Perez Jr. and Nicole Foster.

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Updated: 1:25 p.m. May 25, 2017

UPDATE: ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- The Winnebago County Coroner's Office has identified the 12-year-old boy killed in an attempted robbery as Donavan Ruland.

Rockford Police say Ruland was riding an ATV in an alley off of 16th Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets around 8:00 Wednesday night when he was shot in the upper body in what police believe was an attempted robbery. Ruland was then taken to the hospital where he later died.

Detectives are still trying to identify the suspect as well as two others who were in the area with the suspect just before the shooting.

The Rockford Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Rockford Police Department Investigation Bureau at 779-500-6551, or Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.

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Updated: 11:45 a.m. May 25, 2017

UPDATE: ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- Police are looking for the person who approached a 12-year-old boy Wednesday evening, as he was riding an ATV in an alley.

Rockford Police say it was an attempted robbery that led up to the boy being shot in the chest.

Police are still searching for the suspect. They're also looking for two other people who were seen with the suspect right before the shooting.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- Officers say a 12-year-old boy is dead following a shooting this evening near 4th Street and 16th Avenue.

Investigators say it happened around 7:30 p.m. The boy was taken to a local hospital where he later died.