3 teens held without bond in slaying

Emotions spilled out of a West Palm Beach courtroom Saturday morning after three teens were ordered held without bond on first-degree murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a mixed martial arts fighter on July 3.

There was a tense moment in the parking lot of the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Complex between the family and friends of victim Aaron Rajman and the mother of defendant Jace Swinton. At the same moment, inside the courthouse, the mother of 16-year-old defendant Summer Church tearfully asserted that her daughter is innocent.

“I know everything that happened that is not in the report. I know more than I need to know and I know that this case is not over. I was in the interrogation room with Jace and with Summer,” said Judi Church, referring to defendant Jace Swinton, 18, of Margate, her daughter’s boyfriend.

She then walked out of the courthouse and to Swinton’s mother, who appeared shaken. The two women consoled each other, and then Swinton’s mother also asserted that her son is innocent.

“He didn’t do it. He’s a very humble, sweet kid,” she said. She declined to give her name.

Rajman’s family and friends, as well as the family of defendant Roberto Ortiz, 18, of Boynton Beach, declined to comment after the hearing.

Church, Swinton and Ortiz were booked into the Palm Beach County jail Friday morning after being indicted in Rajman’s killing. In addition to first-degree murder, each defendant faces two counts of armed home invasion robbery with a firearm.

Church will be tried as an adult.

Rajman was shot inside his home on the 22700 block of Southwest 65th Terrace, where there was an altercation, according to authorities.