Derrick Wilkerson, 20, was killed in Chicago on June 9, 2012. His death came during a year of sharply elevated violence in the city: 2012 recorded over 500 homicides and was widely noted for high murder rates that surpassed larger cities. Most homicides that year were gun-related and involved young men, and the surge has been linked in reporting to gang activity, economic hardship, and long-standing systemic problems concentrated in certain neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods such as Austin and Englewood were especially affected by retaliatory and street violence, and Chicago Police Department data place Wilkerson’s death among many incidents that highlighted the city’s struggle with gang conflicts and strained community relationships. Does anyone have information about Derrick Wilkerson, or recall circumstances surrounding his death?