On May 22, 2025, Edward Will Booker III, a 35-year-old resident of Mishawaka, was arrested after allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who is eight months pregnant and shares a child with him. The violent attack left the victim with severe injuries, including swollen eyes, bruises, and strangulation marks. Booker now faces multiple felony charges, and a video he posted boasting about the assault has ignited widespread public fury.
The assault took place in the 220 block of East 8th Street, Mishawaka, following an argument that began the previous night. Police arrived at 10:56 a.m. to find the victim with both eyes swollen shut, blood on her face, and marks indicating strangulation, along with large bruises on her abdomen and sides. She declined medical attention and could not recall the prior 24 hours, suggesting significant trauma.
Booker fled through a back window but was apprehended later that day at 4:06 p.m. after a chase. A South Bend Police officer spotted him at the Beacon Heights apartment complex, and he was taken into custody at gunpoint on the 3530 block of Putnam Place after resisting arrest.
On May 23, 2025, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office charged Booker with six counts, including:
- Count I: Domestic Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury (Level 6 Felony)
- Count II: Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Pregnant Woman (Level 5 Felony)
- Count III: Domestic Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Pregnant Woman (Level 5 Felony)
- Count IV: Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Count V: Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Count VI: Residential Entry (Level 6 Felony)
The potential sentences are significant:
- Level 5 Felony: 1 to 6 years, up to $10,000 fine
- Level 6 Felony: 6 months to 2.5 years, up to $10,000 fine
- Class A Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year, up to $5,000 fine
Booker’s prior convictions, including domestic battery and other violent offenses, may lead to harsher penalties. As of May 24, 2025, he remains in custody, with the case ongoing.
The incident gained national attention after a video, posted by Booker and shared on X by @Raindropsmedia on May 23, 2025, went viral. In the 19-second clip, believed to be from Snapchat under the username “HENNY_LOVE,” Booker, calling himself “Big Brazy,” bragged about the assault, saying,
“I’m home now, she’s beaten up, do you still want her?”
The video’s confrontational tone fueled public outrage.
“All y’all, all y’all be in this goofy ass bitch inbox. She’s not going for no motherfucker. She’s not gonna go. ”
He also added in the video.
”You want her? Like that? Cuz that’s how she going. You going on the internet. Tell them stop texting you.She, she ain’t gonna go bro.”
X users condemned his actions, with@SunnyBanks_ writing, “Beating any woman as a man is wrong, but a pregnant woman?! That makes it worse. JAIL THAT SCUMBAG FOR LIFE.”
Another,@_RichBabyDaddy, remarked, “Single motherhood did a terrible job with black men,” sparking debates on toxic masculinity and societal issues.
The X post also claimed Booker was “recently released from prison,” but official sources have yet to confirm this, raising concerns about misinformation. Regardless, the video intensified calls for justice.
A post from X.
Booker’s past pattern of violence, including previous convictions for domestic battery, creates a concerning portrait of recurrent abuse. There were further reports from neighbors, in which videos captured the victim battered and Booker making threats to use further violence. The case has highlighted the difficulty involved in handling repeat offenders and safeguarding vulnerable people, particularly pregnant women.
As of May 24, 2025, Booker remains in custody for further legal proceedings. The case remains under intense focus, fueled also by social media’s contribution toward bringing about an exposé of the incident. It comes as a stark reminder of the all-pervasive nature of domestic violence and how difficult it is to address
It is in the digital age.