Ira Washington, age 60, was shot and killed in Chicago on September 2, 2015. His death occurred during a year that saw a marked surge in gun homicides across the city, a pattern linked in reports to concentrated poverty, limited economic opportunities, and entrenched gang activity in certain neighborhoods.

Washington was described as an innocent victim in a wave of violence that affected residents of varied ages and often took place in residential areas where shootings were becoming more common. The city responded with community policing efforts and initiatives to reduce illegal firearms, but 2015’s homicide numbers underscored persistent social problems contributing to the violence.

If anyone knew Ira Washington or has information about the September 2 shooting, please share what can help clarify the circumstances surrounding his death.