William D. Albers was a 47-year-old Baltimore city police officer and part-time security officer at Johns Hopkins Hospital when he was shot during a struggle in the hospital emergency area. On July 30, 1979, he was assisting Willie M. Shaw, a 34-year-old who had voluntarily sought treatment as a mental patient, when Shaw became violent, overpowered Albers and gained control of his .38-caliber service revolver. Albers was shot five times in the abdomen, arm and legs; he managed to fire the final round, which struck Shaw in the chest and killed him instantly.

Albers survived for three weeks in the hospital’s intensive care unit, receiving extensive medical treatment and large transfusions, but his condition finally worsened and he died on August 19, 1979. He left a wife and three children and was remembered by colleagues as easy-going and good-tempered. Did anyone who worked at the hospital that summer recall details that could shed light on how the struggle unfolded?