Chicago Police Say Man Opened Fire On Teenagers Who Asked How Tall He Was

A Chicago man who allegedly opened fire on three teenagers was arrested and charged with double homicide on June 26, according to the Chicago Police Department.

Laroy Battle, 19, was arrested for allegedly firing nine rounds at three teenagers in an alley after they asked him how tall he was, killing Jasean Francis, 17, and Charles Riley, 16, according to the Chicago Police Department, local ABC affiliate WLS-TV reported.

“The victims commented, because, since Battle is quite tall, and they asked him how tall he was and, you know, hoped to be that tall someday,” said Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan, Chicago WLS reported. “And unfortunately, obviously we’ll never see the full growth of these poor children.”

https://twitter.com/Chicago_Police/status/1276335113580818433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer
Two of the boys were shot in the back, Francis was hit in the chest and left hand, Riley was hit in the left leg, and the third boy was unharmed, Fox reported. Francis and Riley were pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center upon arrival, WLS-TV reported.

“He was a kid,” said Francis’ aunt Latonya Pettit, WLS reported. Francis “liked video games, snacks. That was his thing. He would walk into this hospital gift shop daily and purchase snacks.”

https://twitter.com/Chicago_Police/status/1275481941467230209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer
Community members recognized Battle after police released surveillance video of the incident, Deenihan said, according to WLS.

Battle has three previous arrests, including aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, gambling, criminal damage to property, and possession of cannabis according to the Chicago Police Department.

The Chicago Police Department did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.