Joseph Gould, a 36-year-old homeless black man, was shot dead on July 30, 1995, under the "L" tracks in River North, Chicago. The official cause of death was a contact gunshot wound to the left side of his head, which exited the back of his head. The bullet was fired from a 9 mm Beretta semiautomatic owned by Gregory Becker, a white Chicago police officer.
The incident began when Gould, who had a troubled life marked by drug and alcohol addiction, got into an argument with Becker and his
girlfriend after they left a bar. Becker went to his car, retrieved the gun, and struck Gould with it, causing the weapon to discharge and hit Gould in the head. Becker and his girlfriend then drove away, initially unaware that Gould was wounded.
The case drew significant attention and controversy, leading to multiple legal proceedings. Becker was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed violence. In 1997, a jury found him guilty on these charges, but an Illinois Appellate Court later overturned the conviction, citing inconsistencies between the charges. Becker eventually pleaded guilty to one charge of armed violence in 2003, admitting that he struck Gould with the gun.
The case highlighted issues of police conduct, the treatment of homeless individuals, and the complexities of the legal system. Becker faced a mandatory sentence of at least 15 years in prison, but due to time served, he was unlikely to serve much more than a year. The incident and subsequent legal battles left a lasting impact on the community and raised questions about justice and accountability.
Gould, despite his troubled past, was remembered fondly by some who knew him, including business people who hired him to wash windows and fellow StreetWise vendors. His sister, Gwendolyn Gould, expressed that her brother was trying to get his life together at the time of his death.
