Arraignment in Rinas Shooting Case Moved to Superior Court

Isaac Rinas went home after the graduation ceremony at Wayne Valley High School Wednesday and told his father he was going to give someone a ride, NorthJersey.com reported Sunday.

His father David told the website that didn’t seem unusual.

Rinas was shot and killed mere hours after the ceremony while sitting in a 2013 Infiniti G37 on Fair Street in Paterson, an area notorious for gang and drug-related activity. 

A man got into the back seat of the vehicle, pulled out an handgun, and, according to the website, ordered Rinas and Casey Cole, 18, out of the vehicle. Rinas was shot in the neck, Paterson police said.

Michael DeMarco, chief assistant Passaic County prosecutor who handles homicides, said Cole is not being accused of shooting Rinas.

Rinas was shot shortly before 9 p.m., Paterson police said; the triggerman fled the scene.

“This remains an active investigation,” DeMarco said. “Law enforcement agencies are doing everything possible to gather more information."

Cole, 18, who used to attend Wayne Valley, was charged with felony murder, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Cole was in the Paterson municipal jail Sunday. He was to be arraigned in Paterson Municipal Court Monday but the proceeding will take place in Superior Court Tuesday at 9 a.m., NorthJersey.com reported.

The Rinas family adopted Isaac from Romania when he was 2.

A celebration of Rinas’ life will be held at Vander May Wayne Funeral Home Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Visitation with the family will be held at at Vander May on Monday, July 1 from 4 to 8 p.m.

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.