Peggy Goodman, a 65-year-old woman from Chicago, IL, was tragically killed on March 23, 2018, during a home invasion in the Bronzeville neighborhood. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. when Benjamin Williams, a 31-year-old man, broke into her home on East 37th Street. Williams shot Peggy Goodman to death and also stabbed an 18-year-old woman multiple times, leaving her in critical condition.
The police indicated that the incident might have been domestic-related, as Williams had a person with him who allegedly helped him commit the home invasion. The second person involved has not been taken into custody.
Benjamin Williams, who has a history of criminal activity, including a conviction for a 2009 bank robbery, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, home invasion, aggravated domestic battery, and marijuana possession. Prosecutors revealed that Williams was on probation for a federal firearms case at the time of the attack. On the day of the incident, Williams and another man rang the doorbell of the home shared by Peggy Goodman and her granddaughter. Despite the granddaughter's plea not to answer the door, the men gained entry. The granddaughter fled to a second-floor bedroom and called 911, but the men followed her upstairs. Unable to break into the bedroom initially, they returned downstairs and shot Peggy Goodman in the head, resulting in her immediate death.
After killing Peggy Goodman, the men went back upstairs, broke into the bedroom, and attempted to shoot the granddaughter. When the gun failed to fire, they resorted to stabbing her approximately 20 times. The granddaughter was dragged downstairs before the men fled the scene. Williams was arrested shortly after the incident, wearing blood-stained clothing. He was held without bail by Cook County Judge David Navarro. The second man involved in the attack has not been charged yet.
The case highlights the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the dangers posed by individuals with a history of violent behavior. Peggy Goodman's death and the brutal attack on her granddaughter underscore the need for continued efforts to address and prevent such incidents.
