Douglass Park shooting: Families of 2 teens shot filing lawsuit against former Chicago Park District lifeguard Charles Leto
Share and Follow

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Park District and a former lifeguard are now facing a lawsuit for a shooting that happened in Douglass Park.

The civil lawsuit was filed by the mothers of the two teens against the now former Chicago Park District lifeguard Charles Leto, who is accused of targeting them.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The wrongful death and personal injury lawsuit accuses Leto of willful violence and also names the Chicago Park District, claiming negligence on the part of park district officials who didn’t fire Leto following a shooting incident he was involved in months earlier.

Marjay Dotson, 15, died in the June attack and relatives say 14-year old Jeremy Herred is now a quadriplegic after being shot by Leto.

RELATED: Lifeguard charged in Douglass Park shooting improperly brought gun to work, prosecutors say

Leto is charged with murder and attempted murder in the shooting that happened at the Douglass Park pool.

Leto has claimed he acted in self-defense and accused the boys of threatening him as they allegedly tried to steal his bike.

Most of the shooting was caught by a park district security camera.

SEE ALSO | Video shows what led up to Douglass Park shooting that killed teen, injured Laquan McDonald’s cousin

Back in 2023, Leto avoided arrest after allegedly being involved in a Lakeview neighborhood shooting of two dogs that required a swat team response.

ABC7 reached out to the Chicago Park District for a response to the suit.

Since the shooting incident, the Chicago Park District says its continuing to make reforms including expanded safety training, increased security along with better tracking of tracking of disciplinary actions and patron complaints.

READ MORE | Lifeguard charged after teens shot at Douglass Park improperly brought gun to work, prosecutors say

The teens’ families and their lawyers plan to share more details about the lawsuit later Wednesday.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Trump pauses $2.1B for Chicago projects, leveraging shutdown

Trump Holds Off $2.1B for Chicago Projects Amid Government Shutdown Negotiations

WASHINGTON (AP) White House budget director Russ Vought said the Trump administration…
Japan is poised for its first-ever female prime minister

Japan is on the brink of having its first female prime minister in history

TOKYO — Japan’s governing party elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader…
Father of 3-year-old girl kidnapped in Alabama counting the days until her return

Father Anxiously Awaits the Safe Return of His Kidnapped 3-Year-Old Daughter in Alabama

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WKRG) — Being 3-year-old Kionii Haugen’s dad, “That’s my…
Don Lemon hits back at Megyn Kelly for comments about his husband

Don Lemon Responds to Megyn Kelly’s Remarks on His Husband

Don Lemon told Megyn Kelly to to ‘get the f**k out of…
Shutdown delays jobs report, leaving Wall Street without key data

Government Shutdown Postpones Jobs Report, Leaving Wall Street in the Dark

NEW YORK () The ripple effects of the government shutdown have hit…
Over a dozen arrested at anti-ICE protests in Chicago suburb

Over a dozen arrested at anti-ICE protests in Chicago suburb

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! More than a dozen…
JD Vance takes center stage during shutdown crisis

JD Vance Emerges as a Key Figure During Shutdown Crisis

Vice President Vance is getting a moment in the spotlight amid the…
Man starts fire at Sliders in Fernandina Beach

Serial Arson Suspect at Sliders Seaside Grill Faces 15 New Charges

John Robuskie Sallas Jr., 53, of HIlliard has been charged additionally with…