Larry Bland, 24, was found dead in his Englewood home on November 17, 2007. He had been killed execution-style with multiple gunshot wounds. Bland was part of Trinity United Church of Christ and counted among a group of openly gay men connected to that congregation.

Bland’s killing was the first in a short span that included several murders of openly gay men associated with the same church, including choir director Donald Young about a month later. The cluster of deaths alarmed Chicago’s LGBTQ community and prompted activists and leaders, such as Marc Loveless from the Coalition for Justice and Respect, to ask whether the killings were connected and whether Black gay men were being targeted. Bland’s brother said a robbery that escalated into a hate crime was a possible motive.

Police did not announce any conclusive links between the homicides, and community calls for greater police transparency and protection continued as many questions remained. If anyone knew Larry Bland or has information about his death, please share what you can.