Gloria Binder, a 67-year-old African American woman from Chicago, IL, tragically lost her life on February 1, 2022. Gloria, along with her husband and son, was running errands early in the morning when the incident occurred. They had stopped across the street from the Food Town Supermarket in the 900 block of East 79th Street. While her son, Erskine Binder, went inside the supermarket, someone opened fire, killing Erskine and then shooting into the car, fatally wounding Gloria and seriously
injuring her husband.
The shooting took place just after 6 a.m. on the border of the East Chatham and Grand Crossing neighborhoods. A SWAT team was deployed shortly after the shooting to search for the gunman, who was believed to have run into a nearby apartment building. Despite a six-hour search, no arrests were made at that time. The incident was initially thought to be a robbery gone wrong, as suggested by Gloria's daughter, Jeanette.
Further investigations revealed that the shooting might have been part of a larger pattern of violence in the area. Two weeks prior, a shooting on the same block had left two people wounded, a 16-year-old boy and a 46-year-old woman. Residents of the apartment building where the shooting occurred blamed poor maintenance and minimal security, noting that the front door remained unlocked and there were no security cameras.
In January 2024, nearly two years after the incident, prosecutors charged Juan Ferba with the murders of Gloria Binder and her son, Erskine Binder. Ferba, who had previously avoided charges in a separate murder case due to claims of self-defense, was now facing multiple charges related to the February 2022 shooting. The charges included the murder of Gloria Binder, the attempted murder of her husband, and the murder of Erskine Binder. This development marked a significant step in the pursuit of justice for Gloria and her family.
Gloria Binder was remembered by her family as a loving and generous person. Her grandson, Keith Binder, recalled her as the heart of the family, always open-hearted and willing to help others. Her daughter, Jeanette, shared memories of her mother's kindness, including a time when Gloria took in a nursing home patient who had no place to stay. Gloria's tragic death left a profound impact on her family and the community, highlighting the ongoing issues of violence and security in the area.
