Rashawn Gooden Jr., a 21-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on the morning of February 16, 2016, in the West Side Austin neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Gooden was in a convenience store in the 4900 block of West Division when he encountered Michael Dukes, also 21 years old. After a brief exchange of words, Dukes followed Gooden out of the store and fired at him approximately six times while standing in the store’s doorway.
Gooden, who lived in the 4800 block of West Augusta, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:38 a.m. Investigators found six spent .45-caliber shell casings at the scene of the shooting.
Michael Dukes was charged with one count of first-degree murder for the shooting of Rashawn Gooden Jr. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession. The day after the shooting, a witness overheard Dukes admitting to the crime while talking on his cellphone. Following this conversation, Dukes attempted to sell or trade a .45-caliber handgun to a witness. Cook County Circuit Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Dukes held on a $2.5 million bond.
The case against Dukes was built on the evidence collected at the scene, including the shell casings and the witness testimony. The tragic death of Rashawn Gooden Jr. highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in Chicago and the devastating impact it has on the community. The legal proceedings against Dukes were closely followed, as the community sought justice for the young man whose life was cut short.
