Families of 2 teens shot in Douglass Park sue former lifeguard, Chicago Park District

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 Tuesday 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 Jr. is now a quadriplegic after being shot by Leto.

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

Herred had a three-hour surgery Wednesday to repair a fracture in a vertebra in his neck caused by a bullet.

"Today is day 69, and me and (my) wife ain't done nothing but be by our son's side at the hospital, at his bedside," father Jeremy Herred said. "We basically want answers in every way possible for our kids. Our lives have changed forever."

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

Leto, a Marine veteran, 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 of the teens who had gone to the pool with friends 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

CWB Chicago shared surveillance video of the incident. It shows the teens walking near Leto and his bike. Leto is then seen getting up and pointing a gun at one of the teens. There is no sound on the video. And ABC7 Chicago froze the video before the gunfire begins.

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

"I ask that everybody in the park district be held accountable, from the top to the bottom, because they work with this man every day. And they had little kids complaining every day, and they never did nothing. And this is the result," Herred's grandfather Terris Williams said.

The Chicago Park District said it will review the lawsuit, and respond to the case accordingly.

Leto's criminal attorney is not representing him in the civil case. It's unclear if he has representation.

Since the shooting incident, the Chicago Park District says it's continuing to make reforms, including expanded safety training, increased security and better 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 Chicago Park District previously released findings of its internal investigation, sharing Leto passed two background checks.

The report also outlines at least five incidents involving Leto that required supervisors to take action.

"We hope through this lawsuit we can bring change and accountability to the park district, so a life guard who is supposed to save lives, not take lives, is not allowed to bring a loaded handgun to work," the victims' attorney Jeff Neslund said.

Dotson's family declined to comment Wednesday.