A Chicago Park District lifeguard is facing murder and attempted murder charges after allegedly shooting two teenagers at a local pool, killing one and injuring the other. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, June 25, has sparked outrage as the shooter, Charles Leto, claims he acted in self-defense.
The Shooting: Details of the Incident
The shooting took place around 7 p.m. at the Douglass Park Pool in Chicago, where 15-year-old Marjay Dotson and 14-year-old Jeremy Herred were reportedly standing next to Leto as he fixed a bicycle. According to the police report, Leto, who was a legal gun owner with a concealed carry license, pulled a handgun from his backpack and opened fire, shooting Dotson in the back and Herred in the neck.
Dotson was killed at the scene, while Herred was wounded and later hospitalized.
Leto told authorities he acted in self-defense, claiming that the two teens were targeting him and attempting to steal his bicycle.
However, witnesses and surveillance footage suggest there was no altercation between Leto and the teens before he began shooting. In fact, witnesses reported that the teens did not provoke Leto or appear to pose any threat to him.
The Families’ Reaction
The families of the victims are demanding a hate crime investigation and want to learn more about Leto’s background and motivations. They question whether race played a role in the incident and are pushing for more transparency.
One of Dotson’s relatives said, “He was just 15. His bright spirit and loving heart touched us all. We cherish his memory forever.”
Herred’s uncle, a local pastor, also expressed grief over the loss, describing the teens as innocent victims.
Theories of Motive
Attorney Jeff Neslund, representing both families, believes the shooting may have been an act of mistaken identity. He suggested that Leto may have mistaken Dotson and Herred for other teens who had tried to interact with his bike earlier, possibly after being refused entry to the pool.
“The lifeguard shooter was closing up the pool,” Neslund explained. “There were some boys who did not get into the pool, and they were the ones that did something in connection to his bike.”
The Legal Case: Self-Defense Claim Under Scrutiny
Leto has claimed that he acted in self-defense, but many question the validity of this defense. Neslund argued, “To claim self-defense is absurd when people are running away from you. They’re unarmed, they’re teenagers. So, again, it just boggles my mind.”
Leto is now facing murder and attempted murder charges in Cook County, with the authorities continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
A Community in Shock
The tragic deaths of Marjay Dotson and Jeremy Herred have left their families and the community heartbroken. As the investigation continues, the questions surrounding Leto’s actions, the potential racial implications, and the defense of self-defense remain at the forefront.
The families are demanding justice, while authorities continue to piece together the events of that fateful evening at Douglass Park. The case has raised important concerns about the use of deadly force, especially against unarmed teenagers, and how law enforcement will handle such claims.
