Ben Figgures, 59, was found beaten and slashed in the 300 block of West 76th Street in Greater Grand Crossing, on Chicago's South Side, early on Thursday, August 20, 2026. He lived nearby, in the 7600 block of South Stewart Avenue. Area 2 detectives of the Chicago Police Department investigated.
Passersby found Figgures unresponsive at about 5:12 a.m., not far from a gas station, with cuts and trauma to his face, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Cook County medical examiner's office determined he died of blunt force trauma from an assault and ruled his death a homicide.
Two days later, Cook County Crime Stoppers released a surveillance photo of a man detectives wanted to identify and speak with. The man was wearing a gray hoodie and ripped blue jeans, and Crime Stoppers warned the public to consider him armed and dangerous and not to approach him.
Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. "Someone out there knows what happened to Ben Figgures, and we are asking them to do the right thing," said Paul Rutherford, the group's executive director. "If you witnessed this incident, know who was responsible, or have information that could help detectives identify the offender or offenders, please come forward." Tipsters were asked to reference case #JK380012.
Figgures was born on April 22, 1967. News of his death spread quickly on social media, where friends and community members mourned him; one woman described him as a father figure. Friends were among the first to identify him publicly. A homegoing celebration was held for him on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Proviso Baptist Church.
West 76th Street near Stewart Avenue lies in the western part of Greater Grand Crossing, close to the Dan Ryan Expressway, in an area of homes, apartment buildings and small businesses. The gas station nearby, and any cameras on surrounding buildings, may have captured the man in the gray hoodie, and early commuters and workers may have seen him before or after the attack.
Ben's death came as Chicago's violence continued to fall. The city recorded 416 homicides in 2025, the fewest in about 60 years, after about 590 in 2024 and about 800 in 2021, the deadliest year in a quarter century. Chicago police reported clearing 56 percent of homicides in 2024, though that figure counts cases closed without charges, which means many families are still waiting for an arrest.
No arrest, criminal charge or court case connected to the death of Ben Figgures could be found in news archives or public records. Months later, there is no public sign that anyone has been held responsible. Anyone who recognizes the man in the Crime Stoppers photo, or who was near West 76th Street before dawn on August 20, may be able to help. Even a small detail, such as a name overheard, a car seen leaving the area or a conversation remembered, can help detectives move a case forward. Anyone with information can call the Chicago Police Department's anonymous tip line at (833) 408-0069 or submit a tip online at CPDTIP.com, or contact Cook County Crime Stoppers at (800) 535-STOP (7867).
