Franklin D Lynch, a black patient (wearing a hospital gown, with a cracked shoulder in a sling), was shot by Duggan when he snapped a towel at the officer, who was guarding a prisoner-patient in a hospital ward. Edward Crowley, another patient in the ward was hit by one of the shots and died on Mar 18.

Judge Adlow said that Lynch interfered with officer Duggan's duty to guard his prisoner. If Duggan had failed to perform that duty and had lost his prisoner, "he stood to be a discredited main the Police Department," according to Adlow.