The Murder of Erica Gould

Erica Gould (2018)

Erica Gould (30) was murdered by her ex-husband Jameal Gould (35) during Easter Sunday on April 1st, 2018. Jameal was on the run for three days before Salisbury Police Department officials located and arrested him. While he was on the run, he posted the following message on Facebook as an admission of guilt:

Jameal's Facebook Confession (WMDT, click to expand)

Prior to her untimely death, Erica worked as a youth addictions counselor and had three children; her ex-husband Jameal was the father of one of them. Erica and Jameal’s relationship had soured when Jameal was convicted of federal drug crimes, but the ordeal had also been a source of motivation for Erica as well. After Erica and her children experienced the devastation that addiction brings to families firsthand, the mother wanted to help other families who were impacted by this as well. Erica decided to pursue her education and eventually got a degree in chemical dependency, which is how she ultimately began to work as an addictions counselor.

Erica and Jameal had recently finalized their divorce before her death. That Easter Sunday morning, the two reportedly got into an argument at her Salisbury, Maryland home. Jameal angrily left, but returned later that afternoon—armed with a gun—to continue the argument. This time, Jameal arrived in the midst of an Easter celebration amongst Erica’s family and friends. Witnesses state that Jameal forced his way into the house. When Erica saw him, she ran upstairs to the master bedroom and locked the door. Jameal began to kick down the door, so Erica climbed out of the bedroom window onto the roof over the front porch. As she sat there, Jameal fired several shots out of the window and then fled the scene. First responders found Erica laying on top of the roof after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to the hospital, where she later died.

Jameal was initially charged with first and second degree murder, home invasion, first and second degree assault and false imprisonment. Months later, it was announced that he now faces more than 15 charges:  1st and 2nd degree murder; home invasion; two counts of 1st degree assault;  two counts of 2nd degree assault; two counts of use of a firearm during a violent crime; possession of a firearm with a felony conviction; 3rd degree burglary; two counts of reckless endangerment; illegal possession of a firearm; attempted 1st and 2nd degree murder, and handgun on a person. Jameal currently remains behind bars as his charges are pending.

In January 2020, Jameal was convicted for the first degree murder charge. He is currently awaiting sentencing.

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