On January 14, 1983, 29-year-old Chicago Police patrolman Larry J. Vincent was killed in the line of duty during a burglary response at a three-story apartment building at 5131 South Calumet Avenue. Vincent and his partner, Patrolman George Lipinski, entered from the front while backup officers arrived and confronted two suspects, Nicky Cozart, 28, and Darnell Davis, 24, who were attempting to escape through a first-floor window.

During the confrontation the suspects jumped from the window; Officers Vincent and Clarence Spraggins fired and grazed Cozart. In the confusion, a backup officer, mistakenly believing there was a third shooter, returned fire into the open window. That round struck Officer Vincent in the right side of his face and hit Officer Spraggins in the arm. Vincent collapsed in the snow and later died at Billings Hospital; Spraggins was taken to Provident Hospital and ultimately recovered. The two suspects were captured outside and taken into custody. Vincent had served nearly three years with the department and was survived by an expectant wife, two sons, a father and an uncle who also served with the Chicago Police Department.

Were there witnesses or officers on scene who can clarify the sequence inside the building that night?