Nationwide — Keshia Golden, an African American mother from Chicago, Illinois, is facing murder charges after her boyfriend allegedly attacked her at her baby shower while she was 8 months pregnant. She says she acted in self-defense to protect herself and her unborn child.
At a baby shower in October 2022, her boyfriend, Calvin Sidney, allegedly attacked her inside a home, according to ABC 7 Chicago. He reportedly hit her, grabbed her hair, and slammed her head into a kitchen counter before the fight moved into another room.
During the struggle, Golden allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed Sidney in the leg. The wound hit his femoral artery, causing severe bleeding. He was rushed to the hospital but later died from his injuries. Golden was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Supporters have since held rallies in downtown Chicago, calling for the charges to be dropped. “She reached for a knife to protect herself from her abuser, who was trying to kill her and her unborn child,” said Julie Koehler, Golden’s attorney. Public defenders argue that criminalizing self-defense sends a scary message to women in similar situations.
Prosecutors present a different account, saying the confrontation began over a minor dispute about using a microwave. They allege Golden later followed Sidney into a bedroom and stabbed him while he was lying on the bed, arguing the act went beyond self-defense.
Supporters and family members point to a documented history of domestic violence between the couple. They say at least five police reports were filed before the fatal incident, arguing that earlier intervention could have changed the outcome.
If the case proceeds to trial, Golden’s attorney expects proceedings to begin this summer. Advocates also highlight broader domestic violence statistics, noting that Black women face higher rates of intimate partner homicide, according to a 2020 report from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.