Chicago mother sues city after murder charges were dropped against her and her son

Carlishia Hood speaks during a press conference at offices of the Bronzeville Law Group in Chicago, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, after charges against her and her son were dropped after a deadly shooting at a restaurant. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) 鈥 A Chicago mother who was accused of telling her teen son to shoot a man at a fast food restaurant is suing the city and arresting officers, a day after murder charges against her and her son were dropped.

Carlishia Hood, 35, was held on $3 million bail after she was charged last week with first-degree murder and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was released Monday from the Cook County Jail.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office said it was unable to 鈥渕eet our burden of proof in the prosecution of these cases.鈥

鈥淚鈥檝e experienced pain in many ways that I would never have thought,鈥 she said about her arrest. 鈥漌hat happened to me was totally unnecessary. Never in a million years would I have imagined being brutally attacked, beaten and being arrested.鈥

Hood alleges malicious prosecution, false arrest and intentional infliction of emotional distress in her lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

A cellphone video posted on social media over the weekend shows the man yelling at Hood on June 18 to 鈥済et your food鈥 before threatening to 鈥渒nock鈥 her out. He then punches Hood in the face and head several times.

Prosecutors said Hood texted her 14-year-old son, who was outside the restaurant, to come inside.

Jeremy Brown, 32, was shot in the back by the teen and then ran from the restaurant. Hood and her son, whose name was not released due to his age, followed Brown as Hood told the teen to continue shooting, prosecutors said. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting was recorded by surveillance video, but not the cellphone video, officials said. Hood and her son later turned themselves over to police.

Prosecutors said Hood has a valid firearm owner鈥檚 identification card and a concealed-carry permit.

Her attorney, Ari Williams, told reporters Monday that 鈥淢s. Hood is and has always been a victim,鈥 .

鈥淥n June 18 of this year my life changed. My son鈥檚 life changed," she told reporters Tuesday at a news conference.

The 春色直播 Press. All rights reserved.