Hamza Hammouis was 25 when he was shot dead on August 14, 2017, in Evanston, Illinois. A recent immigrant from Paris and newly married two months earlier to Jennifer Hess, Hammouis was out taking early-morning photos with his wife and one of his sisters when they met a man on Howard Street that led to a fatal altercation. Police say Hammouis was shot in the head and the shooter fled the scene; officers described the suspect as a young African-American male, about 25, roughly 6 feet tall, medium build, wearing a white T-shirt and black pants.

Investigators reported the incident did not appear related to drugs or gang activity and noted Hammouis had no prior criminal record. Gary E. Johnson was later arrested on August 18, 2017, on multiple firearm offenses, including unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, after investigators concluded Johnson had grabbed Hammouis’ legally owned handgun and used it to shoot him. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Felony Review Unit declined to approve further charges, citing self-defense claims, a decision that Hammouis’ family and widow publicly disputed while seeking consular support.

Are there witnesses or additional information about the encounter on Howard Street that could clarify what happened?