Romell Collins was 26 when he was shot and killed in Chicago on April 5, 2012. His death occurred during a year that saw a marked increase in homicides across the city, with violence concentrated in neighborhoods affected by gang activity and social inequality.

Collins’ killing is recorded in a dataset of Chicago homicides from 2009 to 2012 maintained by the Chicago Police Department’s CLEAR system; the dataset tracked prevalence and distribution but withheld specific addresses for privacy. His death was one of over 500 homicides reported in Chicago that year, a spike that drew national attention and prompted intensified efforts by city officials and law enforcement to reduce violence.