Joseph Campbell, a 58-year-old African American man, was found unresponsive in his South Side Chicago residence on the evening of July 22, 2017. Authorities determined he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and classified his death as a homicide. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots around that time and nearby surveillance captured a young African American male in a dark hoodie and jeans fleeing the scene.

Investigators developed a line of inquiry linking Campbell’s community work to the killing. He had been active in a local group aimed at reducing gang violence and had reportedly received threats from individuals believed to be affiliated with a local gang. In the months after the shooting, a 22-year-old male described as a gang member was arrested, charged with first-degree murder and related offenses, and later found guilty and sentenced to life without parole. Campbell’s death prompted renewed community discussion about gang violence and prevention.