Man wanted in deaths of 2 Chicago teens face murder charges

CHICAGO (AP) - Murder charges have been filed against a man accused of fatally shooting two Chicago teens after they asked him how tall he was, authorities announced Thursday.

Detective Brendan Deenihan said Laroy Battle, 19, allegedly shot Jesean Francis, 17, and Charles Riley, 16, after they, along with a friend, encountered the 6-foot-3 Battle at a store. Deenihan says the teens asked Battle how tall he was and expressed the hope they would grow to be that tall.

'œObviously, we'll never see the full growth of these poor children,'ť Deenihan said, adding they were ``very good kids from really excellent families.'ť

As the three teens walked home, Francis and Riley, who had gone to the store to buy candy, were shot multiple times in an alley, according to authorities. The shooting occurred during a Fathers Day weekend in Chicago that saw more than 100 wounded by gunfire and 14 killed.

Battle was arrested Wednesday by the Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force in Schiller Park outside Chicago. Surveillance cameras outside a gas station captured the alleged gunman walking with a heavy limp. Authorities credited the public for providing video of the suspect and his identity for the arrest.