21-year-old charged in shooting death of Janay McFarlane

Charges have officially come down in the murder of 18-year-old Janay McFarlane, the young mother who was gunned down late Saturday night in North Chicago.

She was reportedly with a friend who family members said was the intended target.

Jim McPherson, 21, will appear in court later Wednesday morning. He'll face murder charges, including possession of a controlled substance..

The devastated family awaited word from North Chicago police on charges against their daughter's alleged killer Tuesday night.

McFarlane was shot in an alley off Jackson Street while visiting relatives in North Chicago. She was reportedly with a friend who family members say was the intended target.

At the beginning of the North Chicago City Council meeting on Monday, Mayor Leon Rockingham offered a public assurance to the family of McFarland.

"We're doing everything we can to bring these people to justice," Rockingham said, who then urged tougher federal gun laws. "This was a senseless, brutal murder and one more proof that legislation has to be passed to get guns off the street."

McFarlane's father after returning from a vigil held for his daughter wants justice. He still recalls the worst phone call he's ever received telling him his daughter was gone.

"That was the worst night of my life," McFarlane said. "I didn't even know for a couple days what day it was. After that you just lose all feelings, you just become numb. I never planned on burying my baby, my youngest child."

North Chicago police questioned a second person Wednesday. There was no word on charges against that person as of 8 a.m.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.