Cirenio Valencia, 61, was killed on December 30, 2015, in Houston, Texas. His death occurred during a year when Houston saw a marked rise in homicides, as authorities and analysts pointed to factors such as gang activity, economic disparities, and the availability of firearms as contributors to the uptick in violent crime.

Law enforcement worked with federal partners including the ATF and directed resources at gang-related and organized criminal activity; officials noted demographic shifts, population growth, and changing law enforcement dynamics as part of a complex set of influences behind the surge in murders. Valencia’s killing is recorded among the many cases that illustrated the city’s struggle with escalating violence and the challenges of preventing retaliation and illegal gun acquisition.

If anyone has information about Valencia or the circumstances of his death, please share what is known with local authorities.