Crime
Chicago Park District Lifeguard Charles Leto Charged with Murder in Fatal Shooting of 15-Year-Old Marjay Dotson
CHICAGO — A Chicago Park District lifeguard has been charged with first-degree murder and multiple felony offenses following a shooting that left one teenager dead and another critically injured near the Douglass Park pool on Thursday evening.
Charles Leto, 55, faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm.
The Chicago Park District confirmed that Leto is employed as a lifeguard, and a source within the Chicago Fire Department also verified his role.
According to Chicago police, the incident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday in the 1500 block of South Sacramento Drive, just minutes after the Douglass Park pool had closed for the day.
Two teenage boys, ages 14 and 15, were in the vicinity of the pool and basketball court when Leto allegedly opened fire on them.
The 14-year-old was struck in the neck and the 15-year-old was shot in the back. Both were transported to Stroger Hospital in serious condition.
The 15-year-old later succumbed to his injuries and was identified as Marjay Dotson by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Family members of the surviving 14-year-old confirmed he underwent surgery and remains in critical condition.
They also revealed that he is a cousin of Laquan McDonald, the 17-year-old whose 2014 fatal shooting by police became a national flashpoint for police reform.
A source familiar with the incident stated that Leto had been repairing a bicycle near the pool prior to suddenly firing on the teens.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, and authorities have not released further details on what prompted the violence.
City officials responded swiftly to the tragedy. Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Park District Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, and 24th Ward Alderman Monique Scott met with staff and campers at the park Friday morning to offer support.
In a statement, the Chicago Park District said:
“The Chicago Park District is deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that occurred at Douglass Park. We are cooperating fully with the Chicago Police Department in their investigation. Out of respect for our staff and community members affected by this incident, the Douglass Park pool will remain closed today. We are working in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health to provide crisis support services to staff and neighborhood residents.”
Leto is currently in custody and was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing on Sunday.
The investigation remains ongoing.
MONROE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A 27-year-old Monroe Township man has been charged in connection with the death of 15-year-old Trenton Grant and the serious injuries suffered by the teenager’s mother and stepfather following a violent stabbing incident in Monroe Township, Michigan.
Tyson Alexander Grant faces six criminal charges stemming from an incident reported during the early morning hours of Saturday, October 17, in the 1200 block of Raintree Boulevard, according to Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffery A. Yorkey.
The charges include open murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of carjacking, and one count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer or other first responder.
According to the prosecutor’s office, each of the first five charges carries a maximum possible penalty of life in prison. The charge of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer or first responder carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.
Authorities were dispatched to the Raintree Boulevard area on October 17 after receiving a report of a stabbing.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered multiple people suffering from lacerations and stab wounds. They also found the body of 15-year-old Trenton Grant.
Several people were transported to a hospital for treatment. Investigators subsequently began treating the teenager’s death as a homicide.
The incident prompted a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing and the injuries sustained by the other victims.
Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed the nature of the relationship, if any, between Tyson Alexander Grant and the victims.
According to the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Tyson Alexander Grant is currently hospitalized in Lucas County, Ohio, with injuries stemming from the incident.
Prosecutors intend to seek his extradition to Monroe County after he is discharged from the hospital so the criminal proceedings can move forward.
As of the latest information provided by prosecutors, a date for Grant’s initial court appearance has not been scheduled.
The six charges reflect the allegations filed against Grant. The case remains subject to the judicial process, and the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Authorities have not provided additional details about the events leading up to the stabbing or the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s injuries.
The investigation and court proceedings are expected to provide further information as the case develops.