In the quiet of a January evening, a series of events unfolded that would end in tragedy for William Howard Green, a 43-year-old man from Southeast Washington. Known affectionately as 'BooBoo' to his loved ones, he was described as a fun-loving individual, full of life, humor, and a deep affection for his family, especially his mother and children.
His days were filled with spreading joy and cooking great barbecue, and he was known for his peaceful and non-confrontational nature.
On the night of January 27, 2020, Green was behind the wheel of his car in Prince George's County, Maryland, when he was involved in a series of collisions, striking multiple parked vehicles. Officers from the Prince George's County Police Department were dispatched to the scene to investigate. When they arrived, they found Green asleep in his car. The officers removed him from his vehicle, placed him in handcuffs with his hands behind his back, and seated him in the front passenger seat of a police cruiser.
What happened next inside that police car remains a subject of investigation and legal proceedings. Within a short time, gunshots rang out. Green was shot seven times at point-blank range by a police officer, with six of the bullets striking him in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Initial reports from police suggested there had been a struggle inside the cruiser, but investigators found no evidence to support this claim. It was also initially suggested that Green may have been under the influence of PCP, a claim that was later retracted.
Within 24 hours of the shooting, the officer involved, a 10-year veteran of the police force, was arrested and taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, first-degree assault, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. The case brought renewed attention to the issue of police brutality and misconduct. Green's family, represented by legal counsel, filed a civil lawsuit and ultimately reached a settlement for the unlawful shooting.
