Joseph Willis was 19 when he was killed on May 26, 2020, in Chicago, Illinois. He was found late at night with multiple gunshot wounds after what initial reports described as a drive-by shooting in a neighborhood with high crime rates. Witnesses reported hearing several shots and seeing a vehicle speed away from the scene.

Investigators determined Willis was not the intended target and was apparently caught in the crossfire of a gang-related dispute. The Chicago Police Department interviewed witnesses and reviewed surveillance footage, but identifying the shooters was difficult because clear evidence was scarce and witnesses feared retaliation. Several suspects who were members of a local gang were later arrested in connection with the shooting, though prosecutors faced challenges from limited witness cooperation and complex gang dynamics.

Willis’s family and the community have held memorials and vigils and pushed for action on gun violence.