Lawrence Matchem, age 49, was shot and killed on December 12, 2016, while shoveling snow in the Oakland neighborhood of Chicago. The incident occurred in the 800 block of East 40th Street when an unknown assailant approached him and shot him in the head. Matchem was pronounced dead at the scene, and the circumstances surrounding the incident left the community and his family devastated.
Lawrence Matchem was known in his community, and his death drew public appeals from his family, who urged anyone with information to come forward to help find the killer. The homicide added to the significant toll of gun violence in Chicago during 2016, a year that saw a troubling increase in homicides throughout the city. Community leaders and officials highlighted this incident as an example of the senseless violence that continues to affect neighborhoods across Chicago, particularly during times when residents should feel safe, even performing everyday tasks like shoveling snow.
Despite ongoing investigations, the case remained unsolved, underscoring the challenges authorities faced in addressing the pervasive gun violence that has plagued parts of Chicago. The loss of Lawrence Matchem serves as a reminder of the broader impact of violence, not only on individual families but also on the sense of safety and community in affected neighborhoods. His family continues to seek justice, urging anyone with information about the shooting to assist law enforcement in bringing those responsible to justice.
For more information about this case and others, you can visit the [Chicago Sun-Times Homicide Database](https://graphics.suntimes.com/homicides/).
