‘Staunch advocate’ for mental health patients fatally shot outside Brickyard Mall was domestic violence victim, officials say – Chicago Tribune

Charges were pending Thursday for a person who is in police custody after a fatal shooting outside the Brickyard Mall that left a 47-year-old “beloved” mental health expert at Cermak Health Services dead, authorities said.

Jennifer Hamilton, 47, was shot and killed Wednesday at about 9:30 a.m. outside the Brickyard Mall, in the 6500 block of West Diversey Avenue, said Chicago police and her union, SEIU Local 73.

Charges were still pending for the suspect, who is a “known offender,” said Officer Michelle Tannehill, a spokeswoman for Chicago police.

According to Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, whose ward covers the shooting scene, which is a Target parking lot, the shooting was domestic in nature.

Hamilton was outside when the assailant approached her and began to fire shots in her 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 stressed the need for the community to notify authorities if they see signs of domestic violence.

Hamilton, who was “beloved by her coworkers,” was a union steward for SEIU Local 73 and worked as a mental health specialist at Cermak Health Services, located on the campus of the Cook County Jail, according to a statement from union President Dian Palmer.

“Our union is devastated over the tragic loss of our dear member and union steward Jennifer Hamilton,” said Palmer’s statement.

“For the past four years, Jennifer was a staunch advocate for her patients and for her union sisters and brothers. Jennifer had a sincere passion for her work in mental health. When you spoke with her, you understood her commitment to providing the best care possible for her patients, before and throughout the pandemic,” Palmer said in the statement.

“Her tragic death will be felt by everyone whose lives she touched.”

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