Charges were pending Thursday for a person in police custody after a fatal shooting outside Brickyard Mall that left a 47-year-old mental health expert at Cermak Health Services dead, authorities said.
Jennifer Hamilton, 47, was shot to death around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday outside the Brickyard Mall in the 6500 block of West Diversey Avenue, Chicago police and their union, SEIU Local 73, said.
Charges were still pending for the suspect, who is a “known felon,” said Officer Michelle Tannehill, a Chicago police spokeswoman.
According to Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36, whose room covers the shooting scene, which is a Target parking lot, the shooting was domestic in nature.
Hamilton was outside when the assailant approached him and began shooting in his direction, according to Tannehill.
Hamilton, who died of multiple gunshot wounds, was pronounced dead at 10:20 a.m. at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, which ruled her death a homicide. .
Villegas emphasized the need for the community to notify authorities if they see signs of domestic violence.
Hamilton, who was “beloved by her coworkers,” was a shop steward for SEIU Local 73 and worked as a mental health specialist at Cermak Health Services, located on the Cook County Jail campus, according to a statement from the president. of the union, Dian Palmer. .
“Our union is devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved member and shop steward Jennifer Hamilton,” Palmer’s statement said.
“For the past four years, Jennifer has been a strong advocate for her patients and her union brothers and sisters. Jennifer had a sincere passion for her mental health work. When she spoke with her, she understood her commitment to providing the best possible care for her patients, before and during the pandemic,” Palmer said in her statement.
“His tragic death will be felt by all those whose lives he touched.”
