Darren Goodwan

Darren Lashay Goodwan was a man known for his gentle heart, strength, and wonderful sense of humor. To his friends and family, the 25-year-old Black / African American man was a devoted father, a protective brother, and a loyal friend. Raised in both Indiana and Wisconsin, Darren had a talent for making people laugh and was often remembered as the class clown. He was the only son in his family and shared a special, protective bond with his four sisters. Though he could be a man of few words, his love for his family was immense. He was a doting father to his three young daughters, Da'shiya, Aubrey, and Olivia, who were the center of his world.

The final hours of Darren’s life unfolded in the early morning of Saturday, August 30, 2014. He was at a party on Madison’s south side when a fight broke out between him and a friend of another man, Tyrone Isaac Jr. In the midst of the conflict, Isaac pulled out a gun and shot Darren twice. Police were called to the 700 block of West Badger Road by reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found Darren lying wounded in the street. He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he passed away around 5 a.m. An autopsy would later confirm that he died from his gunshot wounds.

Darren’s death was the third gun-related homicide in Madison that year, and it prompted an emotional plea from the city’s police chief, Michael Koval. He called for a community-wide response to the rising tide of gun violence, stating, "Faulty ammo and bad aim is about the only thing that hasn’t doubled up our numbers right now, so those people who would continue to live their lives in Madison minimizing, rationalizing, discounting or avoiding the painful realities of what gun violence is doing to our community had better get a grip." He urged community and church leaders to intervene and steer young people away from street justice and retaliation.

The investigation into Darren’s murder moved quickly. The Madison Police Department identified 27-year-old Tyrone Isaac Jr. as the primary suspect. After shooting Darren, Isaac was himself shot in the knee by one of Darren’s friends. He then began a multi-state flight to evade capture. He first appeared at a hospital in Dubuque, Iowa, falsely claiming he had been the victim of a robbery. From there, he took a taxi to Cedar Rapids and boarded a bus to Denver, Colorado. His run from the law ended a few days later when he surrendered to police in a Denver suburb on September 3, 2014.

Isaac was extradited back to Wisconsin and initially charged with first-degree intentional homicide. In July 2015, he accepted a plea agreement. In October 2015, Tyrone Isaac Jr., then 29, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree reckless homicide. A Dane County judge sentenced him to seven years in prison followed by five years of extended supervision. During the sentencing, the judge noted that while Isaac may not have intended to kill anyone that night, his decision to bring a loaded gun to a party and use it during a fistfight had irrevocably cost a young man his life.

The loss of Darren left a profound void in the lives of his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Tasha Goodwan, in 2007. His obituary remembered him as a man with a "huge heart" who deeply touched the lives of many. His sisters recalled him as the most loving brother they could have asked for, someone whose presence alone could fill a heart with joy. His family and friends gathered to say their final goodbyes at a funeral service held in Gary, Indiana, on September 6, 2014.

The criminal case against the man responsible for Darren Goodwan's death is closed. Tyrone Isaac Jr. served his sentence and, according to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, was released from prison in May 2022 to begin his period of extended supervision. For Darren’s three daughters, his sisters, and his many loved ones, the pain of his absence remains a permanent part of their lives.