Douglass Park Shooting: Video Shows Moments Before Incident

NBC Chicago obtained video footage showing the moments before and after a Chicago Park District lifeguard fatally shot a teenager and wounded a second outside a community pool at Douglass Park.

Charles Leto, 55, appeared at a court hearing on Sunday, where a judge denied pretrial release. Leto was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm involving an occupied vehicle.

Leto was accused of shooting and killing 15-year-old Marjay Dotson and wounding Jeremy Herred, 14, who remained in critical condition as of Sunday night.

Attorneys said an argument occurred about Leto’s bike, which had been dropped and broken. The argument, they said, involved at least one teen in the group who entered the pool area through an employee door after being denied entry without an adult guardian.

A suspect was charged with murder in connection with a fatal shooting that killed one teenager and wounded a second near a community pool at Chicago’s Douglass Park. NBC Chicago’s Randy Gyllenhaal reports.

As Leto flipped the bike to fix it and grab tools out of a backpack, he also grabbed a gun, which was legally registered, attorneys stated. Video shows the man, who was identified as Leto, kneeling down and working on his bicycle when multiple teens approached. He then pulled out a gun, stood up and opened fire, footage revealed.

The 55-year-old has claimed self-defense after saying he felt threatened.

Leto is a decorated Marine Corps veteran and trained in firearms, defense attorneys said.

He began working full time at the pool in 2024, the attorneys said, adding he has zero criminal history and volunteered after. While the court hearing took place indoors, supporters of the victims took part in prayer circle outside, which they said was to help strengthen the victims’ families.

“A hot day going to a pool,” said Rev. Robin Hood, an anti-violence activist whose granddaughter is friends with the injured teenager. “All you want to do is cool off…and leave the pool and get shot by a grown man, an adult, that’s supposed to be a lifeguard. that’s just devastating and heartbreaking.”

Leto’s attorneys said police still have yet to recover the backpack that was dropped by one victim.