A Chicago-based lifeguard, Charles Leto, 55, is currently facing charges of murder and attempted murder following an incident where he allegedly shot two teenagers at a local swimming pool. Leto asserts that he acted in self-defense, claiming that the teenagers attacked him and tried to steal his bicycle. The incident led to the death of one teenager and severe injuries to the other.
The victims, Marjay Dotson, 15, and Jeremy Herred, 14, were at the Douglass Park pool around 7 p.m. on a Thursday when the incident took place. Police reports and witness accounts suggest that Leto, a lifeguard for the Chicago Park District, shot the two teenagers while they were standing next to him as he was fixing his bicycle.
After the incident, Leto reportedly informed the police that he was a legal gun owner with a concealed carry license and that his actions were in self-defense. He alleged that Dotson and Herred had targeted him and tried to steal his bicycle.
The families of Dotson and Herred are now urging for a hate crime investigation. They are calling on authorities to investigate Leto’s background and motivations. As of now, an official motive for the shooting has not been disclosed.
According to the police, Leto allegedly pulled out a handgun from his backpack and shot Dotson in the back and Herred in the neck. Witnesses have stated that there appeared to be no altercation or provocation between Leto and the teenagers prior to the shooting. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Leto shooting the teenagers.
Dotson’s family described him as a bright spirit with a loving heart. Herred’s uncle, a local pastor, mentioned that the teenager had only visited the Douglass Park pool a few times. Jeff Neslund, the attorney representing both families, suggested that the shooting might have been a case of mistaken identity, with Leto possibly mistaking Dotson and Herred for other kids who had previously tampered with his bike.
Leto is currently facing charges in Cook County. Neslund criticized Leto’s claim of self-defense, stating that it was absurd to claim self-defense when the victims were running away unarmed.