In the quiet neighborhood of Washington Heights on Chicago's South Side, a tragedy unfolded on the night of March 7, 2026, ending the life of 68-year-old Phyllis R. Goolsby. A beloved preschool teacher, Goolsby was a cherished figure at Raycoan Scholastic Academy, where she had dedicated 15 years to nurturing four-year-old students.
On that Saturday evening, just before 11 p.m., police were dispatched to Goolsby's home in the 10400 block of South Peoria after receiving a 911 call.
The caller, identified as 75-year-old William Wallace Jr., Goolsby's boyfriend of twenty-five years, informed the dispatcher that he had shot his girlfriend and her sister. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered both Phyllis Goolsby and her 71-year-old sister, Tuanna Thomas, with fatal gunshot wounds to the chest. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
Wallace was taken into custody at the residence, and a weapon was recovered. He later confessed to the killings. He has since been charged with the murders of both Phyllis Goolsby and Tuanna Thomas. The community, particularly the staff and students at Raycoan Scholastic Academy, mourned the loss of a dedicated and loved teacher.
