Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Herred Jr., paralyzed after a summer shooting at Douglass Park pool, made his first public appearance Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, sharing a brief but pointed message while the man accused in the attack sat quietly in the same building. Supporters filled the courtroom gallery as a scheduled detention hearing was delayed at the defense’s request. It was Herred Jr.’s first time back in court since the June shooting, and relatives said he is still focused on fighting for his recovery. The hearing was pushed to next Tuesday.
Herred Jr. speaks at Leighton
Addressing the crowd for the first time since he was shot, Herred Jr. kept it short and steady. “Always believe,” he said, a line his family later described as a kind of rallying cry as they continue his rehab, according to ABC7 Chicago. His relatives told the station they remain deeply grateful for the support they have received. ABC7 reports that Herred Jr. is returning to his rehabilitation facility but wanted to show up for the hearing, and that the judge agreed to move the detention hearing to next Tuesday.
How the attack unfolded
The June 26 shooting erupted when a Chicago Park District lifeguard allegedly opened fire near the Douglass Park pool, killing 15-year-old Marjay Dotson and critically injuring Herred Jr., according to the district’s public review. The internal summary confirmed the date of the attack, identified both teenage victims, and noted that investigators drew on personnel files, incident reports, and staff interviews, the Chicago Park District reported. The review also found that staff had reported several earlier verbal disputes involving the lifeguard, but those run-ins were never formally logged in the central personnel system.
Park District review and reforms
In mid-July, the Park District put out its internal report and rolled out a list of fixes that officials say are meant to keep anything like this from happening again. The plan calls for a permanent security officer at Douglass Park, a camera system assessment, expanded de-escalation training, and a centralized process to track complaints. “This was a horrific and heartbreaking act of violence,” General Superintendent Carlos Ramirez‑Rosa wrote in the review, which the district said was posted online along with supporting documents and an invitation for public feedback, per the Chicago Park District. The district also said the lifeguard resigned after the shooting and has been placed on a do-not-rehire list while prosecutors pursue the criminal case.
Video and charges
Surveillance footage later obtained by local news outlets captured the lead-up to the gunfire, and prosecutors say the video helped shape the charges they ultimately filed. According to CWBChicago, 55-year-old former lifeguard Charles Leto now faces counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Authorities say both teens were shot near the pool; Marjay was later pronounced dead, and Herred Jr. underwent surgery for a neck wound.
Background on the accused and families' response
Earlier reporting and the Park District’s review describe prior complaints about aggressive behavior by the employee, concerns that were handled informally rather than through the central system. After the shooting, the families of both teens filed a civil lawsuit against Leto and the Park District, the Chicago Sun‑Times reported. The suit alleges the district failed to properly document and address the worker’s conduct and highlights a 2023 incident in which he reportedly shot two dogs, episodes that did not lead to criminal charges. “What should have been a great day in the summer… turned into a nightmare,” an attorney for the families said, according to the Sun‑Times.
Legal implications
The criminal case now hanging over Leto carries some of the most serious charges on the books. Prosecutors say he faces murder and attempted-murder counts and allege he brought a firearm to his Park District job in violation of district policy. Leto’s lawyers argue he acted in self-defense, and earlier coverage noted he holds a FOID card and a concealed-carry license, according to ABC7 Chicago. The defense team requested a continuance, and the detention hearing was reset for next Tuesday. Both families, along with community leaders, say they plan to return to court to keep pressing for answers.
What’s next
All eyes will be on next Tuesday’s hearing, where relatives and neighborhood organizers who have rallied since June are expected to pack the benches again. The Park District says it will keep rolling out the reforms identified in its internal review while the criminal case moves forward. Herred Jr.’s decision to show up in person, along with his family’s determination, has helped keep the case in the spotlight, as advocates call for tougher oversight of employees who work with children. The coming week will test whether the courts and the Park District’s new policies start to deliver the accountability and protections the community has been demanding.
