CHICAGO — Cook County prosecutors have dropped all charges against a Chicago woman and her 14-year-old son, who were accused of first-degree murder last week following an altercation inside a fast-food restaurant.
“Based upon our continued review and in light of emerging evidence, today the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) has moved to dismiss the charges against Carlishia Hood and her 14-year-old son,” the state’s attorney’s office said in a written statement. “Based upon the facts, evidence, and the law we are unable to meet our burden of proof in the prosecution of these cases.”
The decision came after cellphone video emerged over the weekend, providing a fuller picture of what happened late last Sunday night at Maxwell Street Express, 11656 South Halsted. CWBChicago reported on the new video yesterday.
In the newly-surfaced video, 32-year-old Jeremy Brown is seen yelling, waving his arms, and repeatedly threatening to knock Hood unconscious as she stood at the restaurant’s order window.
The footage showed Brown punching Hood, apparently in the face, once. He stopped for a moment, then hit her two more times. As the third punch was being thrown, a gunshot was heard.
Twitter user @heyFATabbot first posted the footage Saturday. While it shows Brown throwing punches and includes the sound of gunfire, it does not show Brown being shot:
In charging Hood and her son last week, prosecutors cited restaurant surveillance video as they told a judge that Hood’s son shot Brown after the first punch.
Prosecutors initially claimed that Hood texted her son, who was waiting outside in their car and pointed at Brown. They said the boy retrieved Hood’s firearm from the car’s glove compartment and entered the restaurant doorway. Hood is a licensed concealed carry holder.
Last week, prosecutors also accused Hood’s son of chasing Brown from the restaurant and shooting him again at Hood’s instruction. They also claimed that Hood encouraged her son to shoot a bystander inside the restaurant who had laughed at the altercation. He did not do that, they said.
Neither Hood nor her son have criminal backgrounds. Her defense attorney said on Thursday that she is a crossing guard for the city of Chicago.
