In the early morning hours of August 15, 2021, the life of 28-year-old Genesis Shyheed Williams was tragically cut short in Columbia, South Carolina. A night that began with visits to various clubs with an acquaintance, Jerod Goodwin, devolved into a fatal encounter. Williams, a male resident of Eastover, was a father and was remembered for being the life of the party and making everyone laugh.
The evening took a dark turn when Williams and Goodwin, accompanied by a friend of Williams,
went to Goodwin's mother's house. Inside, Goodwin armed himself with a stolen pistol. A verbal and physical altercation broke out between Goodwin and Williams. Following the dispute, Williams and his friend decided to leave. However, Goodwin entered the back seat of Williams' car, still in possession of the firearm.
As they drove, the argument between Williams and Goodwin reignited. At approximately 7 a.m., in the 2000 block of Dominion Drive, the conflict escalated. Both men exited the vehicle, and Goodwin fired his weapon, shooting Williams in the lower body before fleeing the scene in Williams' car. Richland County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call of shots fired and found Williams lying in the road. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the death of Genesis Williams led authorities to 20-year-old Jerod Dequin Goodwin. He was arrested 107 days after the shooting and was found with the murder weapon still in his possession. Goodwin was subsequently charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and use of a vehicle without permission.
In a Richland County courtroom on December 22, 2023, a jury found Jerod Goodwin guilty on all charges related to the death of Genesis Williams. Following the conviction, the presiding judge sentenced Goodwin to 30 years in prison for his role in the shooting death and car theft.
