Marcellus Ward was a 36-year-old Baltimore Police Department detective who was killed on December 3, 1984, during an undercover DEA task force operation targeting heroin distribution. A 13-year veteran with multiple commendations and a past nomination for Policeman of the Year, Ward was working deep undercover inside a third-floor row house at 1829 Frederick Avenue when a buy-squad move to make an arrest turned into a shootout. He was shot four times while seated on a couch; he was wearing a hidden microphone and the audio recorded his final moments.

Officers arrested dealer Lascell Simmons at the scene. Simmons was charged with Ward’s murder, tried, and convicted; he received a life sentence and later died in prison. Defense attorneys argued Simmons did not know Ward was a police officer and described the raid as chaotic. The audio from the hidden microphone was introduced at trial.

Are there investigators, witnesses, or family members with memories or documents from the operation who can share more about how the sting was planned and executed?