2 charged in shooting of 3-year-old boy

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two Chicago men have been charged Sunday night with shooting a 3-year-old boy who is still in critical condition 48 hours after the shooting.

The suspects are 19 and 22 years old and each faces several criminal charges.

Police were able to identify the alleged shooters rather quickly, thanks in part to witness accounts. The suspects are expected to appear in bond court on Monday.

As 3-year-old Jason Ares continues to recover at Mt. Sinai Hospital, charges are now filed against two men whom police say unintentionally shot the boy during a gang confrontation in Brighton Park Friday night.

Nineteen-year-old Alger Sanchez and 22-year-old Anton Aseves are charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and discharge of a firearm.

It's another one of those cases where the offender has an extensive criminal history and shouldn't have been on the street in the first place," said CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

The shooting took place around 10 o'clock Friday night. Police say the toddler was standing in front of his home with his mother and another man when two women and a man walked past them on the street. When they reached the end of the block, police say the male turned around and started shooting at an unknown target. Three-year-old Jason was hit in the stomach and hip.

Earlier Sunday, Superintendent McCarthy said police recovered the weapon that was used in the shooting.

"If we stem those guns from coming in and we put people in jail for possession of firearms, we'll see the murder rate and the violence rate go plummet even more than we see it today," he said.

People close to the family say that the toddler is still in serious condition and could remain hospitalized for at least a week. He is expected to recover.