Charles E. Williams, 46, was fatally shot on a sidewalk in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on December 21, 2011. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Williams succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The killing occurred amid a broader surge of gun violence across the city that year and added to Austin’s already serious public-safety concerns.

Investigators struggled with familiar obstacles in high-crime areas: community reluctance to cooperate, fear of retaliation, and distrust of police, factors that have complicated efforts to solve cases in the neighborhood. Williams’ death highlighted the need for better community-police relations and more resources to address persistent gun violence and systemic neglect.

If anyone knew Charles Williams or has information about what happened that day, please come forward to investigators.