Chicago Mom, Son, 'Falsely Arrested' After Shooting Attacker; Charges Dropped; Mom Sues
Following the dropping of murder charges against a Chicago mom and her 14-year-old son in the shooting of a man who attacked her at a South Side hot dog stand, a lawsuit alleging false arrest has been filed, according to Chicago Sun-Times.
Carlishia Hood, the mother, expressed her frustration during a news conference held at her attorney's office in Bronzeville on Tuesday, stating that her arrest had tarnished everything she had worked hard for.
The lawsuit claims that Hood was wrongfully arrested and maliciously prosecuted, resulting in emotional distress. It is seeking damages exceeding $50,000.
The police pursued charges against Hood despite lacking probable cause, and it argues that video footage of the shooting provides complete evidence in Hood's favor, the suit said.
However, the lawsuit does not address that the police sought and obtained approval for the charges from the Cook County state's attorney's office.
It is worth noting that the lawsuit repeatedly misspells the deceased man's name, referring to him as "Jerome Brown" instead of Jeremy Brown, who was 32 years old.
During the news conference, Hood became emotional and sobbed after delivering her statement. Her attorneys stated that she would not be taking any questions then.
READ NEXT: Gunfire Erupts During Memorial Gathering in Chicago
Chicago Shooting Incident
A cellphone video that surfaced on social media over the weekend depicts Brown verbally confronting Carlishia Hood on June 18, demanding she collects her food and subsequently threatening physical violence.
The man proceeds to strike Hood multiple times in the face and head, AP reports.
Prosecutors revealed that Hood texted her 14-year-old son, who was outside the restaurant then, instructing him to come inside.
As the situation escalated, the teenager shot Brown in the back, after which Brown fled from the establishment.
Hood and her son, whose name remains undisclosed due to his age, pursued Brown, with Hood allegedly urging her son to continue shooting. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
While surveillance video captured the shooting incident, it did not capture the events depicted in the cellphone video. Hood and her son subsequently surrendered to the police.
Prosecutors mentioned that Hood possesses a valid firearm owner's identification card and a concealed-carry permit.
During a news conference on Monday, Hood's attorney, Ari Williams, stated that "Ms. Hood is and has always been a victim."
Hood addressed reporters during a news conference on Tuesday, expressing how her life and her son's life have been altered since the Chicago shooting incident on June 18.
Chicago Mom Should Have Never Faced Murder Charges, Says Legal Analyst
Legal Analyst Irv Miller expressed on Monday that the murder charges brought against the Chicago mom should never have been filed in the first place, per CBS News.
Miller highlighted multiple mistakes made by Cook County prosecutors and stressed that the murder charges were unwarranted.
The video clearly showed the woman being repeatedly struck, and under Illinois law, individuals have the right to defend themselves when attacked, said Miller
Furthermore, the law also permits the use of deadly force to protect others who are being attacked. Miller argued that the video footage aligned precisely with the statute's provisions.
Following the Cook County State's Attorney's decision, the charges were dropped on Monday morning.
Consequently, Carlishia Hood was released from the Cook County Jail after spending nearly five days in custody.
Her son was also released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center after being held for the same duration.
READ MORE: Idaho College Murders Update
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Mother in deadly Chicago shooting and attorneys detail lawsuit filed after murder charges dropped - From NBC Chicago
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!