Chicago Gunman Sentenced to Life for Double Homicide of High School Students
In a tragic case that has drawn public attention, a Chicago man has been sentenced to life behind bars after he fatally shot two Hyde Park High School students in an alleyway following a random encounter at a nearby gas station. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office made the announcement on Thursday, confirming the sentencing of 25-year-old Laroy Battle.
Judge Mary Brosnahan imposed the life sentence on Battle, who was found guilty five months earlier by a jury that took only three hours to deliberate on multiple murder counts and charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The horrific incident occurred at around 5 p.m. on June 20, 2020, in an alley located behind the 7900 block of South Luella Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood.
According to officials, Battle, who was already on probation for a previous gun-related offense, came across 17-year-old Jasean Francis, 16-year-old Charles Riley, and their mutual friend while they were stopping for food at a gas station. Witnesses reported that one of the boys spotted a firearm tucked into Battle’s waistband. Their friend remarked on wishing to be as tall as the 6-foot-3 Battle to aspire to play basketball.
Tragically, moments later, as the teens walked back through the alley, Battle approached and began firing, releasing at least 11 shots that claimed the lives of Francis and Riley. Their friend, who was further ahead, managed to flee the scene and promptly contacted the police.
Law enforcement quickly gathered critical evidence, including surveillance footage that captured Battle fleeing the scene with a gun in hand. Investigators noted that he returned to the area the following day, searching through trash containers for the weapon he had discarded. However, unbeknownst to him, police had already recovered the .40-caliber handgun he had abandoned.
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) released images from the surveillance videos, leading to an influx of tips from the community, identifying Battle as the shooter.
Brendan Deenihan, who was the CPD’s top detective at the time of the investigation, described Jasean Francis and Charles Riley as “really good kids from excellent families.”
On Thursday, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office commended prosecutors Emily Stevens and Joseph Carlson for their effective handling of this tragic case.
Tim Hecke is the Managing Partner of CWBChicago. He began his career at KMOX, a renowned radio station in St. Louis, before moving to various positions in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York City. Tim has built syndicated radio news and content services that served large markets across America and has been leading CWBChicago since 2019.
You can reach him at tim@cwbchicago.com.
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