On a Sunday morning in December 2001, the peaceful atmosphere of the All Souls Church in Brattleboro, Vermont, was shattered by a series of events that would end in the tragic death of Robert 'Woody' Woodward. The 37-year-old white male, known as an activist and social worker, had entered the church in a state of agitation, claiming his life was in danger and seeking asylum.
His distress escalated to the point where he produced a knife, though witness accounts differ on whether he threatened anyone other than himself.
Parishioners, concerned for his well-being and the safety of others, contacted the police. The arrival of Brattleboro Police Officers Terrance Parker and Marshall Holbrook escalated the already tense situation. According to the police, Woodward advanced toward them with the knife, refusing commands to drop it. In what they described as a necessary act of self-defense and to protect others, the officers fired their weapons, striking Woodward multiple times. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on December 2, 2001.
The aftermath of the shooting was fraught with controversy and conflicting narratives. While the police maintained that their actions were justified and that Woodward posed a lethal threat, some congregants who witnessed the event insisted that he was not aggressive towards others and was primarily a danger to himself. They contended that the police did not attempt to de-escalate the situation before resorting to deadly force.
An investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Vermont Attorney General's office. In 2002, the office concluded that the officers' use of force was justified and cleared them of any wrongdoing. Consequently, no criminal charges were filed against Officer Parker or Officer Holbrook, and no arrests were made in connection with Robert Woodward's death. The official decision, however, did not quell the public debate. In response to the shooting and the subsequent investigation, a group called Justice for Woody was formed. Comprised of individuals who believed the shooting was unjust and preventable, the group advocated for a more thorough and independent review of the incident and worked to keep Woodward's memory and the circumstances of his death in the public consciousness.
