CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago man has been convicted following allegations from law enforcement that he lethally shot two teenagers in the South Shore area after being inquired about his height in June 2020.
According to police reports, Laroy Battle, who was 19 years old at the time of the incident, discharged a firearm at two adolescents in an alley within the 7900-block of South Luella Avenue at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 20.
Officials from the Chicago Police Department conveyed that the shooting occurred subsequent to a brief interaction between the two teenagers, accompanied by a friend, and Battle at a local convenience store, where they were unfamiliar with each other.
As the three teens walked home, two of them were shot multiple times in the alley. Police said they recovered nine shell casings from the scene.
Jasean Francis, 17, was shot in the back, chest and left hand and taken to University of Chicago Hospital, where he died. Charles Riley, 16, was shot in the back and left leg and was taken to University of Chicago Hospital, where he also died.
Police said the two boys had asked their mothers for the okay to go down the block and buy candy.
Battle was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Police said he had a previous conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, for which he received probation.
A jury has now convicted Battle. He will back in court next month for post-trial motions.
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