Jaylen Howard was 16 when he was shot and killed in Chicago on October 24, 2016. His death came during a year that saw a sharp rise in homicides across the city, with youth disproportionately affected.

Reportedly, the 2016 surge in violence coincided with a statewide budget impasse that reduced funding for community programs that had provided support and safe activities for young people. Howard’s killing is presented as part of a wider pattern of firearm violence tied to gang conflicts and easier access to guns, and it underscores the broader toll on families and neighborhoods.

Does anyone who knew Jaylen or was in his neighborhood at that time have information that could shed light on what happened?