Zachary Freeling, 26, was found dead in the foyer of his Washington, D.C., home after his roommate discovered him unconscious on the evening of October 18, 2021. Paramedics could not revive him; he had suffered a single gunshot wound to his left shoulder. The bullet traveled downward through his heart.

The D.C. Medical Examiner initially ruled the manner of death undetermined, a finding Zachary’s family contested. They said the wound’s location was inconsistent with a self-inflicted injury and emphasized Zachary was planning a food truck business he had long wanted to open. His family hired private investigators and, after persistent advocacy, the chief medical examiner reclassified the death as a homicide in June 2024.

The reclassification allowed the Metropolitan Police Department to open a murder investigation. No arrests or public identification of suspects have been announced; the investigation remains ongoing. If anyone knew Zachary, his movements that evening, or has information about his death, please share what is known with investigators.