Douglass Park Shooting Sparks Urgent Reforms After Lifeguard with Troubled Record Kills Teen

A former Chicago Park District lifeguard, now facing murder and attempted murder charges, had a documented history of confrontations with park patrons and staff prior to the fatal shooting of two teenagers near Douglass Park’s pool, according to a recent internal review by the Park District.

Charles Leto, 55, is accused of shooting 15-year-old Marjay Dotson, who died from his injuries, and 14-year-old Jeremy Herrod, who was critically wounded, during a violent altercation on June 26 at Douglass Park, located at 1401 S. Sacramento Drive. Prosecutors allege the shooting stemmed from a dispute over Leto’s bicycle.

The Park District’s investigation revealed Leto had previously been involved in several verbal altercations during his tenure as a lifeguard, but these incidents were handled informally at the local level and were never officially documented, raising concerns about oversight and accountability.

In response to the shooting, Park District officials announced a series of reforms to prevent future tragedies. These include the installation of permanent security at Douglass Park, enhanced disciplinary tracking for employees, expanded staff safety training, and collaboration with local residents on a long-term safety plan.

“This was a horrific and heartbreaking act of violence,” said Park District CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. “We must act with urgency and integrity to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.”

On the day of the shooting, Leto had just finished his shift when he fired at three unarmed teens, striking two of them. Dotson was shot in the back while trying to flee and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Herrod was shot in the neck and spent days in a coma before regaining consciousness, his family confirmed during Dotson’s funeral.

Leto was placed on emergency unpaid suspension pending an investigation, then resigned in lieu of termination. He has since been placed on the Park District’s “do not rehire” list and remains in custody awaiting trial.

The internal review found that Leto never reported feeling unsafe on the job in the days leading up to the shooting. However, his attorney, Jayne Ingles, pushed back, claiming Leto had flagged multiple safety concerns that were ignored by the district.

“The Park District acknowledges that its facilities lacked proper security and that they failed to adequately train staff to manage threats,” Ingles said. “This environment placed both patrons and employees in danger, leading to an avoidable tragedy.”

Leto had passed all required background checks when he was hired in 2023. However, the review also revealed that several months before his employment, he was involved in a standoff with police after shooting two dogs—an incident that triggered lockdowns at nearby schools. Though no charges were filed, the lack of formal public records meant the event did not appear in background screening.

Community reaction to the June 26 shooting has been strong and sustained. The Chi North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce launched a petition demanding a public apology from the Park District, permanent safety measures, cultural competency training for staff, and more community involvement in planning improvements at the park.

In alignment with these demands, the Park District will now implement expanded staff safety training, conduct a thorough assessment of surveillance systems, and build a centralized system to track verbal warnings, patron complaints, and employee coaching to detect concerning patterns earlier.

“We are committed to leaving no stone unturned,” said Ramirez-Rosa. “These reforms are not just a response to tragedy—they are a promise to the people of Chicago that their safety and trust will be restored.”