Blake Ross, 20, of Evanston, Illinois, was shot and killed on May 12, 2013, on East 76th Street on Chicago’s South Side. Authorities found him with multiple gunshot wounds and the Cook County Medical Examiner pronounced him dead at the scene. Ross had attended Evanston Township High School and lived on the 2300 block of Greenwood Street.

Family described him as a loving uncle and an aspiring performer who loved music, especially Michael Jackson, and had even met with a producer a couple of years before his death. Police suggested his killing may be connected to a recent series of violent incidents affecting Chicago and Evanston; commanders said he was likely an intended target and that the shooting appeared gang-related, though not all community members agreed with that framing. Community leaders held a 5th Ward meeting amid rising tensions after several young people were lost.

Does anyone who knew Blake or was in Evanston or the South Side around that time have information that could help clarify what happened?