John Winkler was 30 when he was killed on April 7, 2014, in West Hollywood. He had recently moved from Washington state to pursue work in television production and was visiting friends in an apartment on Palm Avenue the night he died.

One stabbing victim escaped by opening the apartment door and Winkler followed. Deputies who had responded to a 911 call about the knife attack mistook Winkler, who was thin and wearing a black shirt, for the assailant. As he ran out, deputies fired four shots; Winkler was hit once and died, while another victim was struck in the leg and survived. McDonald was charged and later pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder; his defense said he was psychotic at the time and a trace of cocaine was found in his system.

Winkler’s family described him as kind and talented and said his death left enduring pain. The Sheriff’s Department expressed regret over the mistaken shooting. Does anyone have information about Winkler’s last hours or the apartment where the attack occurred?