Geoffrey Stewart was 16 when he became one of the many victims of Chicago’s violence in 2012. Found dead on December 9, his death came amid a surge that pushed the city past 500 homicides that year, a level not reached since 2008. Reports tie the spike to gang-related shootings and strained community resources, and citywide homicides reportedly rose 17 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Stewart had reportedly bought a bus ticket in November 2012 intending to leave Chicago to escape the escalating violence that had claimed friends and peers, but he was killed before he could make that planned departure. His case underscores how few options some young people believed they had and how those hopes could be cut short by the prevailing violence.

If anyone knew Geoffrey, his plans to leave the city, or the circumstances of his death, please share what you know.