CHICAGO — A 55-year-old lifeguard has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder after allegedly shooting two teenagers — killing one and injuring the other — at Douglass Park in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood.
The accused, Charles Leto, is a Marine Corps veteran who, according to prosecutors, opened fire on a group of teens after a verbal altercation at the park’s pool on Thursday evening. He made his first court appearance Sunday, where a judge ordered he be held without bail due to the “danger he poses to the community.”
Victims Identified: Teen Killed, Laquan McDonald’s Cousin Wounded
The shooting occurred around 7:03 p.m. near the 1400 block of South Sacramento Drive, police said. Two teens were struck:
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15-year-old Marjay Dotson was shot in the back and later pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide.
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14-year-old Jeremy Herred, identified by his family as the cousin of Laquan McDonald, was shot in the neck and remains hospitalized in serious condition. Herred is a sophomore at UIC Prep.
Family members and clergy have since gathered to mourn, pray, and call for additional charges.
Gun Was Illegally Brought to Work, Prosecutors Say
Leto, who holds a valid FOID card and concealed carry license, violated Chicago Park District policy by bringing his firearm to work. Prosecutors said he first had a verbal exchange with a third teen who was upset the pool was closing — that teen was not injured.
Moments later, Leto allegedly targeted and shot the two teens. The firearm used in the shooting was discharged multiple times during the altercation.
During Sunday’s hearing, prosecutors described the act as intentional, while the defense claimed it was self-defense, citing threats and an attempted theft of Leto’s bike by the teens.
Community Response and Allegations of Hate
Reverend Robin Hood, a West Side pastor whose granddaughter was at the park during the incident, condemned the presence of firearms at youth facilities:
“It just doesn’t make sense to have guns at a pool, where children are,” he said.
Relatives of the victims are urging authorities to consider hate crime charges against Leto, but no such charges have been added as of now.
Leto is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday.
Were you at Douglass Park during the time of the shooting, or do you believe city pool safety should be reevaluated? Share your thoughts with us in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
