On a Sunday morning in December 2001, Robert Woody Woodward, a 37-year-old activist and social worker, entered All Souls Church in Brattleboro, Vermont, visibly agitated and told congregants his life was in danger. Witnesses say his distress escalated and he produced a knife; accounts differ on whether he threatened anyone other than himself. Parishioners called police. Brattleboro officers Terrance Parker and Marshall Holbrook arrived, and police say Woodward advanced toward them with the knife and ignored commands to drop it. The officers fired, striking Woodward multiple times; he was taken to a local hospital and died on December 2, 2001.

The Vermont Attorney General’s office investigated and in 2002 concluded the officers’ use of force was justified, so no criminal charges were filed. Some congregants disputed the official account, insisting Woodward was primarily a danger to himself and that police did not attempt de-escalation. A group called Justice for Woody formed afterward to push for further review and to keep attention on the case.

If we knew Woody, attended All Souls that morning, or witnessed the arrival of the officers, can anyone add detail about what happened inside the church?