A cousin of Laquan McDonald was wounded in a shooting that left another teenager dead at Chicago’s Douglass Park, family members of the injured teen told NBC Chicago.
The shooting occurred at around 7:03 p.m. on Thursday in the 1400 block of South Sacramento near the park’s pool. Two teenagers, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, were approached by a male suspect who opened fire, police stated. Family members said the pool had just closed when a Chicago Park District worker pulled a gun and began firing.
“What I do know is these young men were unarmed, I do know the wounds they sustained were wounds they were fleeing him. And they were at a pool,” Rev. Marvin Hunter, of Grace Memorial Baptist Church, who knows both families, said.
The older teen, identified as Marjay Dotson, was shot in the back and transported to an area hospital, where he died. The 14-year-old, identified as Jeremy Herred, sustained a gunshot wound to the neck and was hospitalized in serious condition.
Relatives said he is a cousin of Laquan McDonald, the 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer in 2014. The circumstances surrounding Thursday’s shooting remain unclear.
An attorney for the victims’ families said a dispute may have transpired over the lifeguard’s bicycle.
“There’s absolutely no defense for using a deadly weapon against unarmed children, over an incident with your bicycle,” Attorney Jeff Neslund said.
Police confirmed one person was taken into custody but haven’t said if the individual is a Chicago Park District lifeguard. Friends of the victims are demanding charges against the person who pulled the trigger.
“You know highly upset that this guy would just go crazy and kill their child,” family friend Mark Carter said. “This guy must be taken off the street.”
In wake of the shooting, the Chicago Park District closed the Douglass Park pool on Friday, but opted to keep the fieldhouse open.
The Chicago Park District released the following statement regarding the shooting:
“The Chicago Park District is deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that occurred at Douglass Park. We continue to cooperate with the Chicago Police Department as they conduct their active investigation. The Park District has made the decision to close Douglass Park pool today out of care and respect for the park staff and community members impacted by yesterday’s events. The District is working with the Chicago Department of Public Health to offer crisis support services to the park staff and residents of the surrounding community.
In spite of this tragic event, Douglass Park remains a safe and vibrant community anchor. The fieldhouse will be open today during normal operating hours and all programs will be held as scheduled. Additional Park security and other staff will be present throughout the day.
The Park District understands the gravity of this situation. We have initiated a thorough internal review to understand what happened leading up to yesterday’s shooting and identify appropriate action.
We are committed to supporting our staff, patrons, and the broader North Lawndale community during this difficult time. As we move forward, our focus remains on safety, and ensuring our parks continue to be places of peace, connection, and community.”
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