A suspect was charged with murder in connection with a fatal shooting that killed one teenager and wounded a second near a community pool at Chicago’s Douglass Park.
Charles Leto, 55, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm involving an occupied vehicle, according to police. Authorities said Leto opened fire at the park on Thursday evening, wounding a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy.
The older teen was shot in the back and transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was identified Marjay Dotson by family members. The 14-year-old, who relatives identified as Jeremy Herred, sustained a gunshot wound to the neck and was hospitalized in serious condition.
Jeremy is a cousin of Laquan McDonald, the 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer in 2014.
Relatives of the teenagers said the person who allegedly opened fire, identified as Leto, is a lifeguard with the Chicago Park District. The connection hasn’t been confirmed by park district officials or law enforcement.
While the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, an attorney for the victims’ families said a dispute may have transpired over the lifeguard’s bicycle.
“There’s absolutely no defense for using a deadly weapon against unarmed children, over an incident with your bicycle,” Attorney Jeff Neslund told NBC Chicago on Friday.
Friends of the victims had demanded charges against the person who pulled the trigger.
“You know highly upset that this guy would just go crazy and kill their child,” family friend Mark Carter said. “This guy must be taken off the street.”
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