The Chicago Park District has confirmed the resignation of Charles Leto, a lifeguard charged with the fatal shooting of one teenager and the wounding of another at Douglass Park last week. Leto had previously been placed on unpaid emergency suspension and chose to resign instead of facing termination. The incident, which has left the community reeling, was captured on video and showed Leto, 55, shooting 15-year-old Marjay Dotson in the back and 14-year-old Jeremy Herred in the neck, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The latter, a cousin to the late Laquan McDonald, is still in a critical condition.
Amid outcry from the local community, and a clear demand for actionable measures to prevent such tragedies from recurring, the park district issued a statement: "Our hearts are broken by the tragic and inexcusable killing of 15-year-old Marjay Dotson and the shooting of 14-year-old Jeremy Herred by former Park District lifeguard Charles Leto. We extend our deepest condolences to Marjay's family, friends, and the North Lawndale community, and we are keeping Jeremy and his family in our prayers. This horrific act of violence has shaken us all, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again." This assurance comes in light of revelations that Leto had previously been involved in a non-criminal shooting incident involving dogs in February 2023, reported by ABC7 Chicago. Despite the earlier incident, no charges were filed and the park district still employed Leto four months later.
The local community has rallied, demanding accountability and a public apology from the Chicago Park District. A petition, shared at a rally and drafted by the Chi North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce, has listed demands including permanent security throughout the park and mandatory background checks for all park staff. "We are not accepting the fact that our young people's blood can be spilled on the grounds of a place that they're supposed to be safe at," Rev. Marvin Hunter, Jeremy's great-great uncle, was quoted as saying by the Chicago Sun-Times.
In response to this incident and community concerns, the park district has begun a comprehensive internal review to understand the factors leading up to the shooting and improve safety and accountability measures. "We fully support the right of community members to gather peacefully in our parks and exercise their First Amendment rights, as members of the North Lawndale community did tonight in Douglass Park. We look forward to meeting with petition organizers and stakeholders to address their concerns and work together toward accountability, healing, and lasting change," the park district stated in a message seemingly aimed to directly address the community's wounds, as articulated by the petition outlined at the rally and captured by ABC7 Chicago.
Funeral services for Marjay Dotson are scheduled for July 9 at the Healing Temple Church of God in Christ, while Charles Leto remains in custody, facing charges of murder and attempted murder. His next court date is set for July 16.
