Lifeguard Arrested After Shooting Teens at Pool, Claims Self-Defense: Police

A lifeguard from Chicago is now facing charges of murder and attempted murder after reportedly shooting two teenagers at a neighborhood pool, leaving one dead and the other injured. The lifeguard claims he acted in self-defense, asserting to authorities, “Those two kids attacked me and followed me,” according to local reports.

The victims, 15-year-old Marjay Dotson and 14-year-old Jeremy Herred, were at the Douglass Park pool around 7 p.m. on Thursday when they were allegedly shot by Charles Leto, a 55-year-old lifeguard with the Chicago Park District. The shooting occurred while the teenagers were standing near Leto, who was fixing a bicycle, according to information provided by WBEZ Chicago, referencing the police report and accounts from witnesses.

Leto allegedly told cops after the double shooting he was acting in self-defense and was a legal gun owner with a concealed carry license. He said Dotson and Herred were targeting him and trying to steal his bike, per local ABC affiliate WLS.

“I defended myself,” Leto told police, according to WBEZ.

“I have a license,” he said.

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Dotson and Herred’s families are calling for a hate crime investigation to be launched, telling WBEZ that they want authorities to “see what his [Leto’s] background is and motivation.” An official motive has not yet been released.

Police say Leto opened fire on Dotson and Herred while they were near him, with Leto allegedly pulling a handgun from a backpack he had and blasting Dotson in the back and Herred in the neck. Witnesses told cops there did not appear to be an altercation or provocation involving Leto and the teens before he began shooting at them. Surveillance footage allegedly shows the teens being shot by Leto.

“He was just 15,” one of Dotson’s relatives told WLS. “His bright spirit and loving heart touched us all. We cherish his memory forever.”

Herred’s uncle, who is a local pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, told WLS that he had only been to the Douglass Park pool two or three times before. Attorney Jeff Neslund, who is representing both families, claims the shooting was an alleged case of mistaken identity — with Leto mistaking Dotson and Herred for kids who had messed with his bike after he refused to let them swim, Neslund says.

“The lifeguard shooter was closing up the pool,” Neslund told local CBS affiliate WBBM. “There were some boys that did not get into the pool, and they were the ones that … did something in connection to his bike.”