Dan Rance, a 23-year-old African American man, was fatally shot in the back on September 2, 2015, in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. Reports say the shooter, identified as Darius Murphy, stood over Rance and continued firing, ensuring his death. Investigators later connected the killing to the Wicked Town faction of the Traveling Vice Lords, a group implicated in numerous murders, attempted murders, armed robberies and assaults in the Austin area.

Federal authorities described Wicked Town as operating trap houses for guns and narcotics and using threats to deter witness cooperation. An indictment unsealed in November 2021 charged 13 alleged leaders, members and associates in a racketeering case tied to nearly 40 murders or attempted murders. Murphy admitted to several murders as part of a plea deal and received a 50-year federal sentence.

Anyone who knew Dan Rance or has information about his death is asked to come forward.