The quiet streets of Washington Heights on Chicago’s Far South Side were shaken late Saturday night after a tragic shooting claimed the life of 68-year-old Phyllis Goolsby and another elderly woman inside a neighborhood home.
Police say the incident unfolded just before 11 p.m. on March 7, 2026, when officers were called to a residence in the 10400 block of South Peoria Street following reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they stepped into a heartbreaking scene. Two women were found inside the home suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest.
Emergency responders rushed to help, but both women were pronounced dead at the scene. The loss stunned the Washington Heights neighborhood, a tight-knit community where residents say people often look out for one another.
Authorities later confirmed that one of the victims was Phyllis Goolsby, a 68-year-old Chicago resident. The second victim, a 71-year-old woman, also lost her life in the shooting. Her identity had not yet been publicly released as investigators worked to notify family members.
Police say a 75-year-old man was taken into custody at the residence shortly after officers arrived. Investigators also recovered a weapon at the scene. Officials have not yet shared what may have led to the shooting, and charges were still pending as detectives continued their investigation.
For neighbors, the tragedy has left a deep emotional mark. Residents in the area say it is painful to imagine such violence happening inside a home where people once felt safe. Many are now reflecting on the lives of the two women whose final moments unfolded behind those doors.
Friends and loved ones remember Phyllis Goolsby as someone whose life was built around relationships, memories, and everyday connections that matter most. Her death has left a heavy silence among those who knew her and those who are only now hearing her story.
As the investigation continues, the Washington Heights community is grieving together. Candles, prayers, and quiet conversations now fill a neighborhood trying to come to terms with a loss that arrived suddenly and without warning.
