James Martinez, 54, was killed in Oakland on December 22, 2017, one of 71 homicides the city recorded that year. His death came amid a violent period for Oakland, with gun violence and other violent crime creating a heavy caseload for investigators.

The case is one of several that highlighted concerns about the police department’s low clearance rate and the strain on resources as families sought answers. At the time, the city was implementing crime-reduction efforts such as Operation Ceasefire to address gang-related violence, but Martinez’s killing remained among the troubling unsolved cases that weighed on the community.

Does anyone have information about James Martinez or his movements in Oakland before December 22, 2017?