On June 25, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in the Little Italy neighborhood of Chicago, resulting in the death of 19-year-old Jeleal Goins. The shooting took place in the 1300 block of West Taylor Street, where Goins was a passenger in a rideshare car. At approximately 8:55 p.m., a man approached the vehicle on foot, pulled out a gun, and fired several shots before running away from the scene.
The rideshare driver, who was driving for Lyft at the time, immediately drove Goins to Rush University Medical Center. Despite the prompt medical attention, Goins was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Witnesses described the intense and frightening scene. Andrea Davis, who was sitting on a bench nearby, reported hearing multiple gunshots and ducking behind the bench to shield herself from the bullets. Another resident, Denise Bryant, mentioned hearing the shots from her bedroom and seeking cover behind a wall, highlighting the fear and danger that such incidents pose to the community.
Jeleal Goins was closely connected to an anti-violence organization, Project H.O.O.D., as his mother serves as the executive assistant and his brother is the youth manager for the group. Pastor Corey Brooks, the founder of Project H.O.O.D. and New Beginnings Baptist Church, expressed deep sorrow and a renewed commitment to the organization's mission to end violence and uplift communities. Brooks emphasized that the organization would honor Goins' memory by intensifying their efforts to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As of the current date, no arrests have been made in connection with Goins' death. The investigation is ongoing, with Area Three detectives working on the case. Project H.O.O.D. has established a support fund to assist Goins' family with funeral expenses.
