'I'm not shot. I'm the lifeguard.': Man charged with murder, attempted murder of children in Douglass Park
Chicago lifeguard charged with murder in Douglass Park shooting
A Chicago Park District lifeguard in court today charged with first degree murder and attempted murder in the shooting of two teens in Douglass Park late Thursday night.
CHICAGO - A teenager was killed and another seriously wounded following a shooting at Douglass Park in the city's North Lawndale neighborhood on Thursday evening, authorities said.
Charles Leto, 55, of Chicago, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. Leto is a Chicago Park District employee and a lifeguard at the public pool.
According to court documents, Leto discharged his weapon, struck two unarmed victims, and fired shots at a third victim, but did not strike the victim. Families and children were present at the pool during the incident.
Leto was allegedly not physically attacked by any of the victims.
When police arrived, Leto allegedly said, "I'm not shot. I'm the lifeguard."
What we know:
Two boys, 14 and 15, were in Douglass Park when Leto approached them around 7 p.m. in the 1400 block of South Sacramento Drive, according to police.
"They were at the pool earlier in the day. The encounter with the shooter is not exactly clear, but what is clear is that they were running away when the shooter pulled out his weapon," said Jeff Neslund, attorney for the family of the 14-year-old victim.
Leto pulled out a firearm and shot both victims, police said. The 14-year-old was shot in the neck while the 15-year-old was shot in the back.
Both were transported to Stroger Hospital where the 15-year-old was pronounced dead. The 14-year-old was initially listed in serious condition, and the family's attorney says he is currently in the Intensive Care Unit.
"He's at Stroger Hospital in the ICU, they did surgery last night, so of course we're praying for him. There's a potential brain injury from arteries that were injured," Neslund said.
"It's very tragic," added Pastor Marvin Hunter of Grace Memorial Baptist Church. "I'm stunned. We believe in God for complete healing."
(Chicago Police Department)
Hunter shares that the 14-year-old victim is his great-nephew and the cousin of Laquan McDonald. McDonald was 17 years old when he was fatally shot by former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014, sparking protests and nationwide outrage.
Leto was arrested on Thursday in the 1400 block of S. Sacramento Drive, minutes after the shooting occurred.
He has been charged with one felony count of murder, one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm and one felony count of aggravated discharge of a firearm in an occupied vehicle.
What they're saying:
Hunter, along with other community activists, is decrying the shooting.
"I think we need to come together and begin to think about ways that we can coexist with one another and disagree without being violently disagreeable," Hunter said.
"Every situation doesn't deserve a gun battle," said Malik Thompson, community activist. "We are so prone to violence nowadays that we think our only result is in a gun."
Through his organization, Developing Young Leaders, Thompson is working to make public places, like parks, safer for youth.
"These parks should be peace parks," Thompson said.
With school out for summer, Thompson feels that it’s crucial for youth—and their parents—to rely on spaces in their neighborhoods, like Douglass Park, to enjoy.
"You should be able to come to a park and not worry about getting shot," Thompson said.
The Chicago Park District has issued a statement on the shooting and said they have "initiated a thorough internal review" to understand what led up to the shooting. The full statement is shared below:
"The Chicago Park District is deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that occurred at Douglass Park. We continue to cooperate with the Chicago Police Department as they conduct their active investigation. The Park District has made the decision to close Douglass Park pool today out of care and respect for the park staff and community members impacted by yesterday’s events. The District is working with the Chicago Department of Public Health to offer crisis support services to the park staff and residents of the surrounding community.
"In spite of this tragic event, Douglass Park remains a safe and vibrant community anchor. The fieldhouse will be open today (Friday) during normal operating hours and all programs will be held as scheduled. Additional park security and other staff will be present throughout the day.
"The Park District understands the gravity of this situation. We have initiated a thorough internal review to understand what happened leading up to yesterday's shooting and identify appropriate action.
"We are committed to supporting our staff, patrons, and the broader North Lawndale community during this difficult time. As we move forward, our focus remains on safety, and ensuring our parks continue to be places of peace, connection, and community."
What we don't know:
It is also unclear how long Leto has been a Chicago Park District employee.
Area Four Detectives are investigating.
What's next:
Leto is back in court on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
The Source: Details for this story were provided by the Chicago Police Department.