Grace Louise Denk was 21 when she died on January 28, 2014, in Wilmington, North Carolina. A former U.S. Marine and student at Cape Fear Community College, she was in the cab of her Toyota Highlander on Tabor Lane when a confrontation with police ended in gunfire. Wilmington Police Officer Ian Lovell fired four rounds at her as she sat with a gun in her hand; the autopsy reports five bullet wounds in total. The first wound is described as compatible with a self-inflicted shot to the chest that injured her heart and right lung.

The other four shots were attributed to Lovell’s .45-caliber duty weapon, including one superficial chest wound and three to her left arm. The autopsy also recorded a blood-alcohol content of 0.22 percent. The family disputes the autopsy conclusion that the initial wound was self-inflicted and maintains Grace was shot and killed by an officer. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation probe concluded with New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David announcing no charges for Officers Ian Lovell and Brendan McInerney.

Was anyone in the area that night able to see or hear what happened on Tabor Lane?