In the novel Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, Shawn is the older brother of the protagonist, Will. Shawn is tragically killed in a shooting. The story revolves around Will’s journey to seek revenge for his brother’s death. However, the identity of Shawn’s killer is not explicitly revealed in the book. The narrative focuses more on Will’s internal struggle and the cycle of violence rather than pinpointing the exact person responsible for Shawn’s death.
This ambiguity serves to highlight the broader themes of the novel, such as the impact of violence on communities and the difficult choices individuals face in such environments. The lack of a clear answer about who killed Shawn mirrors the real-life complexities and often unresolved nature of such tragedies.