Jahnell Sykes was 21 when he was shot and killed on December 21, 2011, on the 2600 block of 109th Avenue in East Oakland. His death was one of 110 homicides reported in Oakland that year, a tally that reflected a sharp rise in lethal violence across the city and a heavy toll on young Black men in several neighborhoods.

The investigation into Sykes’ murder faced limited witness cooperation and the complications often associated with gang-related violence, and the case remained unsolved. Community members responded with memorial gatherings and advocacy to support the family and press for change, but systemic obstacles and resource constraints hampered efforts to solve many of the year’s homicides.

Does anyone who lived in East Oakland in December 2011 remember details that could help investigators or the family?