Known to his loved ones for a goofy, comedic, and supportive spirit, Erik L. Williams was a protective and caring presence in the lives of his family and friends. The 27-year-old African-American man was remembered as being both outspoken and humble, a young man who had attended Henderson Elementary School and Gage Park High School on Chicago's South Side. His family and friends affectionately called him "10 moe" and "LMoe." His life, full of humor and promise, was stolen on a summer night in 2016, another tragic loss during a year marked by a devastating wave of gun violence across the city.
The evening of Monday, August 8, 2016, was warm in the West Englewood neighborhood. At approximately 10:18 p.m., Erik was standing on a front porch with a group of people in the 1800 block of West 58th Street. The quiet of the night was shattered when a gray sedan drove down the block and someone inside opened fire. The vehicle targeted the porch, unleashing a spray of bullets. Erik was struck multiple times in the side of his torso. As chaos erupted on the street, the sedan sped away, disappearing into the night.
First responders arrived at the scene to find Erik gravely wounded. Paramedics worked quickly to stabilize him before rushing him to Stroger Hospital, a top-level trauma center. Erik, who lived about two miles away in the 1200 block of West 71st Place, fought for his life. Despite the urgent efforts of the hospital's medical staff, his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at 11:00 p.m., less than an hour after the shooting.
The Chicago Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into the fatal drive-by shooting. Detectives from Area South began the difficult work of piecing together what happened, canvassing the block for shell casings, speaking to shaken witnesses, and searching for any surveillance cameras that might have captured an image of the gray sedan or its occupants. The attack was sudden and brutal, leaving a community on edge and a family consumed by grief and unanswered questions.
Erik’s murder was part of an alarming surge in violence that gripped Chicago that year. The summer of 2016 was exceptionally bloody, and the month of August proved to be the city's deadliest in two decades, with more than 90 homicides recorded. The day Erik was killed was particularly violent, with several other fatal shootings occurring across the city. By the end of the year, Chicago would see a homicide total that surpassed any other major U.S. city, a crisis that drew national attention and left hundreds of families, like Erik's, mourning.
In the years that have passed since Erik’s death, his case has grown cold. There has been no public announcement of significant leads, persons of interest, or arrests made in connection with his murder. For his family and friends, the silence from investigators has been agonizing. They are left to remember the man who brought laughter and support into their lives, while grappling with the painful reality that those responsible for his death have never been brought to justice. The lack of resolution compounds their grief, leaving a wound that cannot begin to heal.
The homicide of Erik L. Williams remains an open and unsolved investigation with the Chicago Police Department. As of late 2023, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no charges have been filed. His case is one of hundreds of unsolved murders in the city, a stark statistic representing real people whose families are still waiting for answers and accountability. Authorities continue to ask for the public’s help for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who committed this senseless act of violence.
