Lifeguard Kills 15-Year-Old, Wounds Laquan McDonalds Cousin Outside West Side Pool, Family Says

A lifeguard shot Jeremy Herred, 14, and killed Marjay Dotson, 15, outside Douglass Park pool in Chicago on Thursday evening. Herred's family, represented by attorney Jeff Neslund, is calling for the incident to be investigated as a hate crime due to the racial dynamics, with a white male shooter targeting two young African-American victims. The shooter claimed he believed the teens were trying to steal his bicycle when he opened fire. Herred is currently in serious condition at Stroger Hospital, where doctors are assessing the risk of brain damage from a gunshot wound to the neck. The Park District has closed the Douglass Park pool and is cooperating with the Chicago Police Department's investigation while initiating an internal review.

The incident has sparked discussions about police accountability and community safety, evoking memories of the Laquan McDonald case, as Herred is a cousin of McDonald. Neslund previously represented McDonald's family in litigation against the city, resulting in a $5 million settlement. As of now, no charges have been filed, and Area 4 detectives are investigating the shooting.