On the evening of November 27, 2004, Bristol Police Officer Mark Edward Vance, 30, responded to a domestic disturbance on Belmont Drive in Bristol, Tennessee. He entered the home at about 9:20 p.m. to check on a report that a man was threatening a juvenile female. A single shot from a .357 caliber handgun rang out inside; the backup officer outside saw a handgun being raised but could not see who fired. The round struck Officer Vance in the head. His service weapon remained in its holster. Vance had been a full-time officer for a year and a half after four years as an auxiliary officer and was a United States Marine Corps veteran.

The shooter, identified as Nickolus L. Johnson, dropped the gun and came out of the house, where he was taken into custody. Johnson was charged with Officer Vance’s murder. In 2007 Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death; he remains on death row.

If anyone knew Officer Vance, the circumstances at the Belmont Drive address that night, or has information about the case, please share what is known.