The tragic incident unfolded around 7:00 p.m. on June 27, 2025, in the 1400 block of South Sacramento Drive. According to police, two boys — a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old — were standing near the Douglass Park pool when they were approached by an alleged gunman who opened fire. The 15-year-old was struck in the back and later pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital. The 14-year-old, reportedly shot in the neck, remains hospitalized in critical condition, with serious injuries that may include potential brain damage.
Family attorney Torreya Neslund stated that the 14-year-old victim underwent emergency surgery and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit. “He’s fighting for his life. We’re asking the community for prayers as he recovers from what could be a permanent, life-altering injury,” she said.
In a chilling development, officials confirmed on Friday that the person of interest brought in for questioning was not only familiar with the park — he worked there. The Chicago Park District later identified the suspect as Charles Leto, who was taken into custody and formally charged. Leto’s motives remain under investigation, and authorities have yet to clarify the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims.
The Park District has since closed the Douglass Park pool and launched an internal review, cooperating fully with the ongoing police investigation.
The 14-year-old survivor is reportedly a cousin of Laquan McDonald, the Chicago teen whose 2014 death at the hands of a police officer sparked national outrage and protest. Community leaders, including Pastor Marvin Hunter of Grace Memorial Baptist Church — McDonald’s great-uncle — have expressed deep grief and frustration over the repeated trauma affecting Black youth in the area.
“This is heartbreaking beyond words,” said Pastor Hunter. “One young life lost, another clinging to survival, and for what? I’m stunned. Our children are being gunned down in spaces meant for safety and recreation. We must do better as a city.”
Mayor’s office officials have not yet released a formal statement, but city leaders are expected to address the public as the investigation progresses.
Meanwhile, residents of North Lawndale are left grappling with the tragedy — a shooting that occurred not in the shadows, but in a city park, in daylight, at a pool where families and children gather for peace and play.
Anyone with further information about the incident is urged to contact the Chicago Police Department or submit tips anonymously through CPD’s tip line.