A beloved Rhode Island musician, Grammy-nominated bassist Roderick MacLeod, was struck and killed while walking his dogs in Hopkinton, R.I., by a driver with more than 100 prior arrests and 40 traffic citations, sparking outrage over how she was still on the road.
A Morning Walk Turned Fatal
Police say
MacLeod, 70, was walking his dogs along Route 128/Spring Street around 7:20 a.m. on a recent Saturday when an SUV veered out of its lane and plowed through multiple objects before hitting him on the shoulder of the road.
The driver, identified as
41-year-old Shannon N. Godbout, allegedly struck
two telephone poles and other roadside objects before fatally hitting MacLeod.
MacLeod was rushed to
Rhode Island Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
One of his dogs survived and managed to run home, according to local reports.
Hopkinton police called it a
“tragic incident” and publicly extended their condolences to his family in a Facebook statement.
The Driver With 100+ Arrests
As shocking as the crash itself is the driver’s record.
According to Hopkinton police and court records cited by local and national outlets,
Godbout has:
-
Over 100 prior arrests-
More than 80 court warrants-
Around 40 traffic citations, including several from Hopkinton police
- A long history of criminal cases in
a dozen Rhode Island cities and townsPolice say that when officers reached the scene, Godbout was found with
“numerous illegal narcotics and packaging materials commonly associated with drug distribution” in the vehicle.
She was arrested on the spot and taken to a hospital in police custody for evaluation.
Godbout is currently facing charges including:
-
Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death-
Possession of Schedule I/II narcotics with intent to distribute (third or subsequent offense)Because she was already on
suspended sentences and probation in prior cases, prosecutors and Hopkinton police say she will also be
presented as a probation violator, which could bring additional penalties and further charges as the investigation continues.
Who Was Roderick MacLeod?
To friends, fellow musicians, and fans,
Roderick MacLeod wasn’t just another name in a police report. He was a core part of New England’s blues and swing scene for decades.
MacLeod was best known as the longtime bassist for
Roomful of Blues, a revered Rhode Island–based jump-blues and swing band.
- He received a
Grammy nomination in the 1980s as a member of the band for the album
Glazed, a collaboration with guitarist and singer Earl King, in the
Best Contemporary Blues Recording category.
- He was later
inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame for his work with Roomful of Blues (the year is reported as either 2012 or 2014 in different outlets, but both agree on his induction).
After leaving Roomful of Blues, MacLeod stayed deeply active in the regional music community, playing in multiple bands, including
J.B. and the Sliding Capos, and becoming a fixture in local clubs and venues.
Friends interviewed by local station WJAR described him as
unfailingly positive and musically versatile.
Fellow musician Doug James told the station that MacLeod was
“always upbeat and cheerful” and that
“few people play that well on everything, and he did.” He added that “100 percent of the people that know him would say the exact same thing.”
A Community in Shock
In Hopkinton and across Rhode Island’s tight-knit music scene, MacLeod’s death has hit hard.
Local coverage has shown friends and fellow musicians sharing memories of late-night gigs, road stories, and his quiet professionalism. Many emphasize that
he survived decades on the road as a working musician, only to be killed on a routine morning dog walk close to home.
The
Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame and former bandmates have been remembering MacLeod not just for his skill but for his generosity with younger musicians and his willingness to jump into almost any musical situation.
The Bigger Question: How Was She Still Driving?
The detail that Godbout had been
arrested more than 100 times has triggered a wave of public anger and disbelief.
Court records reviewed by local outlets show:
- Many of her previous cases ended with
no-contest pleas and suspended sentences, meaning she often
avoided prison time- The
longest sentence she served was just over
two years- She had been ordered to attend
substance abuse counseling at least seven times, most recently in April of this year
For critics, the case is fast becoming a symbol of
systemic failure: how someone with that record — including repeated drug and traffic offenses — could still be legally behind the wheel.
While officials have not yet commented in detail on potential policy changes, Hopkinton police say they are working closely with the
Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and the
State Police Accident Reconstruction Team to build the strongest possible case.
What Happens Next
The investigation is ongoing, but here’s what’s expected in the near term:
-
Accident reconstruction: State police specialists are analyzing the crash scene, damage patterns, and vehicle data.
-
Probation violation proceedings: Godbout is being brought into court as a probation violator, which could lead to additional prison time beyond the new charges.
-
Potential additional charges: Prosecutors will review toxicology, crash data, and evidence of drug distribution to decide whether to add more counts.
Meanwhile, friends and fans of MacLeod are focusing on honoring his legacy — through tributes, memorial gatherings, and, inevitably, music.
For many, the story of Roderick MacLeod now carries a double edge:
a celebration of a life that helped define Rhode Island’s blues scene, and a searing example of what can happen when a dangerous driver slips through the cracks again and again.
Sources
1. Driver who killed musician walking his dogs had been ...
2. Grammy-nominated musician killed; Driver with 100 ...
3. Grammy-nominated musician struck and killed by driver ...
4. Friends remember Hopkinton musician killed in pedestrian ...
5. Hopkinton police say driver in fatal had been arrested over ...
