On February 26, 2021, 26-year-old Frederick Earl Hight II was fatally shot by a Walker County Sheriff’s deputy inside Hight’s home in Empire, Alabama. Family members later filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging a deputy forced entry, placed Hight — who was wearing only a bathrobe — in handcuffs, and then shot him. The suit accused the sheriff’s office of failing to train deputies to handle people in mental health crisis.

The Walker County District Attorney declined to pursue criminal charges against the deputy. The civil case brought by Hight’s family was later resolved through a confidential settlement; the sheriff publicly said the settlement did not constitute an admission of guilt and provided no further details. Many factual questions about what happened in Hight’s final moments remain.

If anyone knew Frederick Hight or witnessed events at his home that day, can you share information that could clarify what occurred?