2 men charged in murder of mother who died protecting baby

CHICAGO (SUN TIMES MEDIA WIRE) - Two men were charged Thursday with the murder of Brittany Hill, the 24-year-old mother who was killed Tuesday in Austin while holding and protecting her 1-year-old daughter.

Urbana residents Michael Washington, 39, and Eric Adams, 23, were both charged with one felony count of first-degree murder, Chicago police said.

Hill was talking with two acquaintances outside a car just before 9 a.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of North Mason Avenue while holding her daughter, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Washington and Adams allegedly drove up in a silver Chevy Impala, got out of the car and shot Hill in the upper body, authorities said. During the incident, Hill tried to hide behind other parked vehicles while shielding the baby.

Someone who drove by took her to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, where she was pronounced dead at 9:25 a.m., authorities said.

Hill’s daughter was not injured, authorities said, and her efforts to protect the 1-year-old have been praised as heroic.

Washington and Adams allegedly fled the scene, but were taken into custody just before 2 p.m. that same day in Urbana where both men are from, police said. The shooting is being investigated as a possible targeted attack against the people Hill was speaking with.

Both men will appear Thursday in central bond court at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 26th and California, police said. No further information is available.