Blood Infection Killed 'Chicago Fire' Star DuShon Monique Brown

CHICAGO, IL — A blood infection is being blamed for the death of a popular star of NBC's "Chicago Fire" series, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. DuShon Monique Brown —a Chicago native who played Chief Boden's assistant, Connie, on the show — passed away unexpectedly in March. She was 49.

The medical examiner's office determined that sepsis of an unknown origin was the cause of Brown's death, the Chicago Tribune reports. Obesity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease also were factors, the report added.

Days before her death, Brown had experienced chest pains and took herself to the hospital, where tests were done, according to reports in March. She was released, but she later suffered what was described as a cardiac episode. She died March 23 at Franciscan Health hospital in Olympia Fields.

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Brown was a veteran actress in Chicago, with more than 20 years of acting experience on the screen and stage. Besides her role on "Chicago Fire" — a series she had been on since its debut in 2012 — she appeared on Fox's "Prison Break" from 2005 to 2007 and had guest spots on Chicago-based TV shows, such as "Shameless" and "Empire."

Along with acting, Brown had worked as a crisis counselor Kenwood Academy High School and sponsored the school's acting program. She attended Chicago's Bryn Mawr Elementary and Whitney Young High schools, and she earned a degree in psychology from the University of Illinois, as well as a master's degree from Governors State University.

Derek Haas, the showrunner for "Chicago Fire," told the Tribune that the series would address Brown's death when it returns. The show was renewed for seventh season in May.

"And remember that DuShon played Connie, but Connie is a character — so we need to do something that’s a nod to her, but we don’t need to do something tragic," he said. "Because part of me thinks, that’s not fair or the way to go, or respectful."

More via the Chicago Tribune

DuShon Monique Brown from 2017 (Photo by Elizabeth Morris | NBC)