In the early hours of July 18, 1998, 24-year-old off-duty Metropolitan Police officer Thomas Franklin Hamlette Jr. was killed outside a nightclub at 1213 K Street NW in Northwest Washington, D.C. The club was co-owned by his father. A dispute that reportedly began over a parking space escalated into a physical struggle in which Hamlette drew his service weapon and it discharged.

Nearby, 28-year-old off-duty officer William F. Hyatt Jr., who did not know Hamlette was an officer, intervened after hearing the gunshot. Hyatt identified himself as police and ordered Hamlette to drop the weapon; when Hamlette turned toward him still holding the gun, Hyatt fired several shots, striking Hamlette multiple times. Two other people sustained minor gunshot wounds. Hamlette was taken to George Washington University Hospital and pronounced dead.

The investigation found Hyatt believed he was confronting an armed suspect and concluded his actions were justified, while the police chief ruled Hamlette had died in the line of duty because he appeared to be taking police action during the initial altercation. Officer Hyatt was placed on administrative leave. In January 2000 the District of Columbia reached a settlement with Hamlette’s family, admitting no wrongdoing while seeking to avoid further division.

Are there witnesses or records from that night who can clarify the sequence of events leading up to the shooting?