Lavaris Johnson, 30, was fatally shot early morning on December 16, 2016, in the Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. His death came during a year that saw a sharp rise in gun violence across the city, contributing to nearly 800 homicides in 2016 and making it the deadliest year in almost two decades.

Lawndale was among the neighborhoods hit hardest by that surge, with violence linked in reports to concentrated poverty, gang activity, and the prevalence of illegal firearms. Despite local law enforcement and community efforts, shootings spiked by over 50 percent compared with the prior year, and Johnson’s killing is one among many that highlight the ongoing challenges in reducing gun violence in Chicago.

If anyone knew Lavaris Johnson or has information about the shooting, please come forward to help piece together what happened.