Hans Neleman/Getty Images
Prosecutors in Chicago have dropped murder charges against Carlishia Hood and her 14-year-old son in the shooting death of 32-year-old Jeremy Brown, according to CBS News.
The news was revealed Monday (June 26) after Hood, 35, and her son were initially charged with murder. However, Cook County prosecutors ultimately dropped those charges after video emerged showing Brown repeatedly punching the woman in the head before the teen shot him.
Investigators say the young mother also had a valid FOID (firearm owner’s identification) card and was a concealed carry license holder during the deadly shooting inside a fast-food restaurant on June 18. Hood was also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allegedly ordering her son to shoot Brown amidst the assault.
Hood’s son, who was not identified due to his age, reportedly entered the West Pullman hotdog stand and witnessed Brown assaulting his mother.
The teen then proceeded to pull out a gun and shoot Brown in the back, the outlet reports.
Brown attempted to flee the restaurant. However, the teen chased him outside before firing several more gunshots.
Prosecutors claim his mother told him to continue shooting and make sure he was dead.
Brown was ultimately shot in the back two times. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to ABC 7.
On Thursday (June 22), Hood and her teen son turned themselves in to authorities. Both were initially charged with first-degree murder, Local 7 reports.
Hood was also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allegedly ordering her son to kill Brown. She was then held on a $3 million bond.
Meanwhile, in Juvenile Court, her son was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Social media users were mostly torn on the murder charges, with many believing Hood’s son was simply coming to her rescue.
“It shouldn’t be 1st degree murder, self-defense in my eyes,” @biggeminiman commented under The Shade Room’s Instagram post.
“Free that child and the mother,” Carlton Hunter wrote.
“Nah he hit his mom… nah I can’t even be mad… self-defense,” wrote @milliemarie38. “Bro did what he was supposed to do!!! Free lil homie💯💯💯” noted @iamkodaktv
Others took issue with the fact that no one intervened on behalf of Hood as Brown was assaulting her.
“Ain’t 1 real n**** in there to defuse the situation before it even got to that point,” wrote @bigbrinna.
“Watched the video and it’s sick that not a single grown man in that restaurant stopped this man from attacking this woman,” wrote @meccamooretarr. “I don’t care what they were arguing about, a man should never put his hands on a woman.”
A GiveSendGo fundraiser created for the Hood family raised $6,624 out of a $35,000 goal as of Monday. Those interested in donating can do so here.
