Latest news with #JeremyHerred
CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
Charles Leto, lifeguard charged with shooting 2 teens, no longer works for Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District said Tuesday night that Charles Leto, the lifeguard charged in a shooting that killed one teenage boy and wounded another in Douglass Park last week, is no longer an employee The Park District said it placed Leto on unpaid emergency suspension on Friday, the day after the shooting. The district then took swift action to fire Leto under the process outlined in its collective bargaining agreement. But Leto resigned in lieu of termination, the Park District said. Leto has been placed on the Park District's Do Not Rehire list, meaning he cannot work for the Park District again in the future. Leto, 55, was ordered held in First Appearance Court on Sunday on one count each of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. He is charged in the shooting this past Thursday evening that killed 15-year-old Marjay Dotson and seriously wounded 14-year-old Jeremy Herred this past Thursday in Douglass Park in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Jeremy is the cousin of Laquan McDonald, who was shot and killed by police in 2014. Prosecutors said Leto opened fire on the teens following a quarrel with a third teenage boy identified as "Victim 3" after Leto found his bicycle had been moved. There was no evidence that the people who moved the bike were the teen victims in the case, nor that the teenage boys threatened Leto or were armed, prosecutors said. The Park District said it is fully cooperating with the Chicago Police Department following the incident, and said it has also launched a comprehensive internal review to understand what led to the events of last week. Meanwhile, CBS News Chicago learned that Leto was involved in another shooting more than two years ago. Jacqui Korvas Michels said when Leto was her neighbor two years ago, he shot both of her dogs — killing one and injuring the other — in her alley next to her garage in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. CBS News Chicago did a story on that case back in February 2023, and on how a SWAT team came to look for the shooter after he walked away. Ultimately, police said when they found the man now known to be Leto, he told officers he had shot the dogs in fear for his life.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Neighbor says Chicago lifeguard charged with shooting 2 teens, killing 1, also shot 2 her dogs in 2023
A Chicago Park District lifeguard charged in a shooting that killed one teenage boy and wounded another in Douglass Park last week has been tied to a shooting in the past, CBS News Chicago has learned. Charles Leto, 55, was ordered held in First Appearance Court on Sunday on one count each of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. He is charged in the shooting this past Thursday evening that killed 15-year-old Marjay Dotson and seriously wounded 14-year-old Jeremy Herred this past Thursday in Douglass Park in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Jeremy is the cousin of Laquan McDonald, who was shot and killed by police in 2014. Marjay Dotson and Jeremy Herred Supplied to CBS Prosecutors said Leto opened fire on the teens following a quarrel with a third teenage boy identified as "Victim 3" after Leto found his bicycle had been moved. There was no evidence that the people who moved the bike were the teen victims in the case, nor that the teenage boys threatened Leto or were armed, prosecutors said. Jacqui Korvas-Michels said when Leto was her neighbor two years ago, he shot both of her dogs — killing one and injuring the other — in her alley next to her garage in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Jacqui Korvas-Michels says Charles Leto shot her two dogs, killing one, in Lakeview in February 2023. Jacqui Korvas-Michels Korvas-Michels said she was taking out the trash when Leto walked out of his apartment, saw her two dogs, walked back inside, grabbed a gun, and came out firing at the animals. "Don't you think there is something wrong with someone who keeps shooting people, and dogs?" Korvas-Michels said. "God know what else he's gotten away with." CBS News Chicago did a story on the case back in February 2023, and on how a SWAT team came to look for the shooter after he walked away. "SWAT came, FBI," Korvas-Michels said. "We had helicopters." CBS News Chicago reported at the time that the SWAT team was on the scene for five hours in the area of Seminary Avenue and George Street — first identifying the man now identified as Leto and then trying to make contact with him, and he was cooperative once they did so, police said. The standoff caused alarm and panic in the surrounding neighborhood, with some picturing an active shooter situation. Ultimately, police said when they found the man now known to be Leto, he told officers he had shot the dogs in fear for his life, CBS News Chicago reported at the time. He was not charged or cited. "He said he felt threatened," said Korvas-Michels. Over the weekend, Korvas-Michels saw the police photo of Leto, now facing charges in the shooting in Douglass Park. Korvas-Michels said when she saw Leto's mug shot, she saw "a crazy person." Video now shows Leto this past Thursday evening, on what seemed like a quiet day after the pool had closed for the night. Kids could be seen playing basketball in the background when gunfire erupted. Before the gunfire erupted, Marjay walked past the Leto along the sidewalk, while Victim 3, still on the grassy area, reached toward Leto's bike, prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's office said. At that point, Leto stood up and aimed a gun at Marjay, who was turning away from Leto at the time, prosecutors said. Leto fired one shot at Marjay, striking him in the lower back, prosecutors said. Marjay fell to the ground. Leto then turned to his left and fired at Jeremy and Victim 3, who were in the grassy area some distance away, prosecutors said. Victim 3 put his hands in the air and walked backward, while Jeremy walked backward as well, prosecutors said. Jeremy was struck in the neck and fell to the ground. Marjay later died of his wounds. Jeremy was hospitalized in critical condition with life-threatening injuries to his neck — with the bullet having shattered his vertebrae and severed an artery that brings blood to his brain, prosecutors said. "He needs help getting off high things," said Korvas-Michels. "He needs assistance." Korvas-Michels showed how her surviving dog, Oakie, can barely walk after suffering gunshot wounds in the 2023 incident involving Leto. He has gone through numerous surgeries. "They had to reconstruct part of his paws, and close up the gunshot wounds, and teach him how to stand. The man should not be able to have a conceal and carry," Korvas-Michels said. "I feel sad. I'm at a loss. It's not going to bring it back, and I feel horrible for these families." Korvas-Michels claimed that in the process of shooting her dogs, Leto also pointed the gun right at her. CBS News Chicago has been looking into Leto's background. But there is no record on a background check of the case of the shooting of the two dogs, because Leto was not charged with or convicted of any crime. CBS News Chicago was waiting late Monday to hear back from the Cook County State's Attorney's office with questions on that shooting.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Chicago lifeguard accused of shooting two teens — including cousin of Laquan McDonald
A Chicago lifeguard has been charged with murder and attempted murder after shooting two teen boys – including a cousin of Laquan McDonald, who was shot and killed by police in 2014. Charles Leto, 55, has been charged with one count each of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Police said two teenage boys, Marjay Dotson, 15, and his friend, Jeremy Herred, 14, were among a group of teens standing near Leto as he was fixing his bike Thursday near the Douglass Park swimming pool. Leto allegedly grabbed a handgun from his backpack and fired the shots as the teens approached, hitting Marjay in the back and Jeremy in the neck, police said. The boys were rushed to Stroger Hospital, where Marjay was pronounced dead, officials said. Jeremy remains hospitalized in critical condition, with doctors concerned about possible brain damage, an attorney representing his family said. Jeremy's cousin, Laquan McDonald, was 17 years old when he was fatally shot by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014. The horrifying shooting of a Black teenager made headlines, as Van Dyke, a white cop, was seen in footage shooting the teen 16 times, despite Laquan being on the ground. Van Dyke was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison in 2019, but was released in 2022, much to the ire of civil rights groups. Meanwhile, following the more recent shooting, Leto claimed to have been acting in self-defense, telling police, 'Those two kids attacked me and followed me….I defended myself, I have a license,' according to a police report. A lawyer representing Leto declined to comment to the outlet. Meanwhile, attorneys for the victims' families urged prosecutors to consider hate crime charges, as the alleged gunman is white and both of the teens are Black. In a statement obtained by CBS News, their attorney said, 'There is no justification or excuse for this heinous criminal act by an employee of the Chicago Park District.' "While no amount of justice can ever restore Marjay's life or fully heal Jeremy's wounds, the families take solemn relief that the justice system is now engaged with the announcement of criminal charges against the shooter," attorney Jeff Neslund said. "They stand firm in their belief that through the diligent work of prosecutors and the courts, justice will be served. In this time of collective heartbreak, the families extend their gratitude to the first responders, including local football coaches at the park, all the medical care providers, the Chicago Police Department, and community members who have shown compassion and solidarity." Witnesses told Neslund there was an altercation between Leto and a group of boys after the pool had closed for the night. "The lifeguard shooter was closing up the pool. There were some boys that did not get into the pool, and they were the ones that … did something in connection to his bike," Neslund said. However, Marjay and Jeremy were not among the boys who did something to Leto's bike, Neslund said. "The shooter's backpack was attached to his bike somehow, and he took the backpack off his bike, turned the bike upside down, pulled out the handgun, and then everybody who was in the area just started to turn and run," he said. According to Neslund, the shooting was recorded on security cameras at the park. Leto was due to appear in court on Sunday.
