James Earl Hammer, a middle-aged white male businessman from Washington, D.C., was killed in February 1972. He had been known in his community as a driven entrepreneur who had built connections across the city. The fatal encounter involved an acquaintance, 24-year-old white male Bruce Alan Davis, who was arrested in Washington, D.C., on a murder charge.

At trial the defense argued the killing was not planned or premeditated; the jury convicted Davis of involuntary manslaughter and he received a five- to fifteen-year sentence with parole eligibility after five years. No other suspects have been publicly identified in Hammer’s death; Davis remains the only person arrested and prosecuted in connection with the case. The incident not only ended Hammer’s life but later drew attention because investigations in Illinois linked Davis to an earlier killing, leading to additional charges there.