AUSTIN — Household, associates and group leaders gathered Wednesday to rejoice the lifetime of Marjay Dotson, the 15-year-old identified for his humor and love of household who was fatally shot exterior a West Aspect pool.
Funeral companies for Marjay Martell “MJ” Dotson had been held Wednesday at Therapeutic Temple Church of God in Christ, 4941 W. Chicago Ave., in Austin. Marjay was one in every of two teenagers shot June 26 by Chicago Park District lifeguard Charles Leto, with the teenage boy being fatally struck in his again.
Household and associates had been united in describing Marjay as a cheerful, fun-loving one that noticed one of the best in these round him. From enjoying soccer for his faculty and group to enjoying Name of Responsibility with associates, fond reminiscences had been recounted by round 20 group members who spoke on the funeral.
Some audio system additionally decried the violence affecting native teenagers and expressed a want for change all through the West Aspect within the wake of the capturing.
“Chicago shouldn’t be a spot the place this violence goes to proceed,” one funeral speaker mentioned.
Marjay was with one other 15-year-old boy and the then-14-year-old Jeremy Herred on June 26 at Douglas Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Drive, when the opposite 15-year-old boy obtained into an argument with Leto over the lifeguard’s bicycle, prosecutors have mentioned.
When the opposite 15-year-old reached in the direction of Leto’s bike, the 55-year-old lifeguard opened hearth on the boys, putting Marjay as he was turning away from the gunfire. Marjay was rushed to an area hospital earlier than being pronounced lifeless. Leto has since been charged with homicide within the capturing.
Jeremy Herrod was struck in his neck and has simply woken up from a coma, his family members shared on the funeral for Marjay. Leto has since been charged with homicide and tried homicide in reference to the shootings.
The group has since rallied round Marjay and Herrod, demanding solutions from the Park District and ensuring Marjay’s life results in change.
Marjay was a participant within the metropolis’s One Summer season Chicago, a youth summer time jobs program that partially seeks to stem violence through the months it typically peaks, Mayor Brandon Johnson confirmed Wednesday.
Johnson began a press convention concerning the summer time jobs program’s growth with a second of silence for Marjay.
“Right this moment is an efficient morning, however but we’re nonetheless riddled with many challenges,” Johnson mentioned. “So I do wish to simply take a second to acknowledge the household of one in every of our fellow One Summer season Chicago members, who was taken away from us with mindless gun violence.”
David Flores taught Marjay artwork this previous faculty 12 months whereas he was a freshman at UIC Faculty Prep, 1231 S. Damen Ave. Flores remembered Marjay as “a light-weight” of positivity in his classroom.
“There was by no means a second you didn’t discover he was there, simply smiling on a regular basis,” Flores mentioned. “Only a good, playful, loving particular person. He made day by day joyful for all of us.”
Tamika Harris is a household buddy of Marjay’s, realizing him since start. She remembers seeing the boy enjoying soccer together with his finest buddy simply earlier than his dying, and loved seeing the “good outdated enjoyable” he had in his group.
Harris misplaced her 21-year-old son to gun violence in 2021 and described studying of the capturing of Marjay and Jeremy as each a triggering reminder of her son’s dying and a reminder that change is required in West Aspect communities.
“Should you had been that terrified, why work in our group? Why be in our group?” Harris mentioned of Marjay’s shooter. ”Our group is uninterested in loss.”
Throughout a devotion by Pastor Marvin Hunter, a relative of Jeremy Herred, Hunter introduced that the boy was beginning to present indicators of restoration.
“I wish to give a reward report that Jeremy has opened his eyes,” Hunter instructed the funeral crowd, which then thundered in applause.
Hunter additionally instructed Block Membership that plans have been made with the Park District to fulfill with each household and group advocates with the Chi North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce concerning the capturing.
A letter, penned by the Chi North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce and signed by Hunter, requires change in Park District practices and enhancements to group relations at Douglass Park.
Particularly, neighbors wish to know the way Leto was employed as a lifeguard after he allegedly shot two canines — killing one — and triggered a hours-long standoff with police two years in the past in Lakeview. Leto was employed as a lifeguard months after the incident, the Solar-Occasions reported.
The chamber of commerce mentioned it was alarmed by the district’s assertion that Leto handed a background examine and argued that this incident ought to have precluded Leto from being employed by the company.
“Our parks should be sanctuaries. Our kids should be secure. And our group should be revered — not merely acknowledged, however actively included within the management and decision-making course of shifting ahead,” the letter learn.
Noah Asimow contributed reporting.
Take heed to the Block Membership Chicago podcast:
Associated
