CHICAGO, IL – A Chicago Park District lifeguard faces murder and attempted murder charges following a shooting that left one teenager dead and another wounded near a local pool Thursday evening, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred at the Douglass Park pool around 7 p.m. when lifeguard Charles Leto, 55, allegedly opened fire on Marjay Dotson, 15, and Jeremy Herred, 14, as the teens stood by while he worked on a bicycle, according to police statements and witness accounts.
Leto reportedly told investigators he believed he was under threat and acted in self-defense, stating that the teenagers had confronted and followed him. He asserted that he is a licensed gun owner with a valid concealed carry permit.
According to the police report, Leto retrieved a handgun from his backpack and fired multiple shots, striking Dotson in the back and Herred in the neck. Witnesses told officers that the teens did not appear to instigate an altercation prior to the shooting. Surveillance footage from the pool is said to corroborate the sequence of events, authorities added.
Dotson and Herred’s families are now pressing for a hate crime investigation, calling for a deeper review of Leto’s background and possible motivations. While an official motive has not been made public, the tragedy has heightened tensions in the local community.
Both teens were reportedly unarmed. Family members and their attorney argue the shooting was unprovoked. Attorney Jeff Neslund, representing the victims’ families, described the situation as a potential case of mistaken identity, suggesting that Leto may have confused Dotson and Herred with other youths who had earlier interacted with his bicycle after being denied access to the pool.
“We want to know why this happened and if more was behind it,” said Herred’s uncle, a pastor at a nearby church. The family of Dotson recalled him as a kind-hearted teenager whose loss leaves a deep void.
Leto is currently detained and faces prosecution in Cook County. The lifeguard’s defense, rooted in claims of self-defense, has been challenged by the attorney for the families, who points to evidence that the teens were retreating at the time of the shooting.
As investigators continue to examine the case, advocates for the families stress the need for accountability and transparency in the ongoing inquiry. The community awaits further information as officials seek to determine whether additional charges or hate crime enhancements are warranted.