Have you ever wondered how an unsolved tragedy drives change? In 2006, 17-year-old San Francisco student Aubrey Abrakasa Jr.—a studious, gang-free kid—was shot and killed near his home. Two decades later, no arrests have been made, partly because SF’s tip reward program had paid out nothing since 2013 due to strict rules barring anonymous tipsters; witnesses feared gang retribution.

Every year, Aubrey’s mom Paulette returns to the intersection to honor him. Thanks to his case, SF overhauled its reward program in 2025 to help witnesses come forward safely. What do you think cities can do to encourage witnesses to speak up about unsolved crimes?