CHICAGO, IL — A summer evening turned tragic in Chicago’s Douglass Park on June 26, 2020, when gunfire erupted near South Sacramento Drive, leaving 15-year-old Martay Dotson dead and a 14-year-old boy critically injured. The senseless act of violence has left families shattered and a community mourning the loss of another young life.
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According to Chicago police, the shooting occurred just after 7:00 p.m. Witnesses and scanner audio indicate that the suspected shooter, believed to be an adult male, was seen on surveillance footage moments before the attack. The man reportedly appeared to be adjusting a bicycle near the park before suddenly pulling a gun and opening fire on the two teens.
Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital. Martay Dotson succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival, while the 14-year-old remains hospitalized in critical condition as loved ones hold onto hope for his recovery.
Authorities have not confirmed the motive for the shooting. While some claims suggest the shooter may have acted in self-defense, police have yet to substantiate these reports. The case remains under active investigation, with detectives reviewing video footage, gathering witness accounts, and urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
Martay Dotson’s death has sent shockwaves through the community. Friends and family remember him as a kind, funny, and ambitious teen with a deep love for basketball and strong ties to his loved ones. “He was just a kid,” said one neighbor through tears. “He had his whole life ahead of him. No child should ever die like this.”
In the days following the shooting, makeshift memorials have appeared at the scene—candles, balloons, photos, and handwritten tributes left in Martay’s memory. Community members have gathered to honor his life, demand justice, and call attention to the devastating toll of gun violence in Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Local leaders and anti-violence advocates have spoken out with renewed urgency. “This tragedy underscores the crisis we’re facing,” said a local pastor. “We are losing our children to bullets instead of watching them grow into their future. It has to stop.”
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the identity of the shooter has not been released. The Chicago Police Department continues to investigate and urges anyone with information to contact authorities or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
For Martay Dotson’s family, the pain is immeasurable. For the surviving teen, the road to recovery is uncertain. And for a city too familiar with heartbreak, the question lingers: How many more young lives must be lost before real change is made?