Jonathan Touchstone was a 16-year-old boy killed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 31, 2008. His death occurred during a year when Pittsburgh recorded one of its highest numbers of school-age homicides, with 13 incidents that year. Most victims were between 14 and 18 and more than 80% were African American.

The violence in 2008 and across Allegheny County was driven largely by firearms, disproportionately affecting young African American males. Between 2000 and 2012 a large majority of homicide victims in the city were young males, over three-quarters of school-age homicides involved a firearm, and nearly all victims were male. Offenders were known in only about half of homicide cases, and when identified were often friends or acquaintances of the victim.

Touchstone’s death is among many from that period that underline the city’s struggles with youth gun violence and unresolved cases. If anyone knew Jonathan or has information about what happened on October 31, 2008, please come forward.