Off-duty lifeguard Charles Leto, 55, shot and took the life of 15-year-old Marjay Dotson Thursday night, June 26, 2025, around 7 p.m. at the pool in Douglass Park, leaving 14-year-old Jeremy Herred struggling for his life. According to Leto, it was self-defense. He got off his bike and started shooting, but there isn’t any fighting in the video—just boys walking by.
The judge described his conduct as a “terrifying lack of judgment” and ordered him to be jailed without bail, despite the prosecution’s claim that the teenagers never threatened him until he opened fire. The seconds before bullets were fired was captured on surveillance footage and it has spread round the internet.
After being shot in the back, Dotson passed away in the hospital. Laquan McDonald’s cousin Herred is still in critical condition. Leto carried a concealed weapon and was now accused of murder. Charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder have been brought against him since his arrest.
According to Charles Leto, he defended himself by shooting the two teenagers at Douglass Park. According to a police report, he informed responding authorities, “Those two kids attacked me and followed me.”
In response, Leto’s defense lawyer stated that her client is a distinguished veteran who continued to work at the park in spite of past occurrences that she says caused a number of other lifeguards to resign.
According to Leto’s attorney, he was merely protecting himself when he shot the teenagers, who he alleges had threatened him violently and had previously destroyed his bike during their attempt to take it.
Leto is expected to appear in court again on Tuesday.
“It just don’t make sense to have guns at a pool, where children are,” Rev. Hood said.
Since the inquiry is still underway, more information will be released to the public.
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