CHICAGO (WGN) A Chicago Park District lifeguard accused of shooting two teens last week, killing one, is the same man who avoided charges two years ago after shooting two dogs, one fatally, and engaged in an hours-long standoff with authorities, two police sources and the dogs’ owners tell affiliate WGN.
Jacqui Korvas Michels said Monday that she’s still traumatized by the February 2023 shooting of her dogs, Squishy and Oakie, in the alley outside her home while she was taking out the trash. Squishy was killed; Oakie survived but needed eight hours of surgery.
Korvas Michels learned Sunday that the man who shot her dogs, 55-year-old Charles Leto, is now facing charges that include homicide and attempted homicide in connection with a Thursday evening shooting at Douglass Park, where he worked as a lifeguard. Marjay Dotson, 15, was killed and Jeremy Herred, 14, was hospitalized. A third victim, another 15-year-old, was fired at during the incident but was not shot.
“I don’t understand why he’s working for Chicago Park District with children and he’s bringing a gun,” Korvas Michaels said.
Marjay Dotson Jeremy Herred
No charges were filed in the 2023 case because detectives did not pursue them, even though the shooting resulted in a SWAT team response and an hours-long standoff at Leto’s Lakeview home. Leto is a concealed carry license and firearm owners identification card holder.
According to a police report obtained by WGN, Leto told the officer the dogs “kept moving towards him in an aggressive manner placing him in fear of his life causing him to fire at both dogs three times.”
Korvas Michels said her dogs, a back boxer labrador and a black labrador, were rescues and not aggressive pets.
She said she’s reached out to the attorney representing the families of the teen boys who were attacked last week.
“If we can be of any assistance with this case of the two young men, I would definitely be happy to help,” Korvas Michels told WGN. “I just wanted somebody to do something because this man shouldn’t be out. He shouldn’t have a gun. I don’t care about your military background.”
Korvas Michels said she would like police to revisit her case.
Attorney Jayne Ingles, representing Leto, said she has no information about a 2023 incident beyond what has been publicly reported, and she noted there is no record of arrest or charges in court records.
“Charles Leto is a Marine veteran who served his country,” Ingles said in a statement. “He was a dedicated advocate for preserving Douglass Pool as an important community resource. We are committed to ensuring that his actions are understood in full context and that his rights are protected as this matter proceeds.”
Leto remains in custody.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly spelled Jacqui Korvas Michels’ name. It has been corrected.
