On November 12, 1992, Deputy Brown was assigned to the Markham Courthouse at the front door entry screening post. It was on that day that he encountered an individual named Hakim King who was standing near the doorway. Deputy Brown informed him that he could not loiter at the front door, but King did not leave. Deputy Brown again instructed King to move, at which time King began to curse at Brown. King then made a threatening move towards Deputy Brown, which caused him to take appropriate action. Deputy Brown, assisted by another deputy, attempted to take King into custody, at which time he became combative. With the assistance of two additional officers, Deputy Brown was able to handcuff the subject and transport him to the Sheriff's Office in the courthouse.

Deputy Brown began to search the subject from behind when King violently snapped his head back and struck Brown in the face, causing him to be injured. Deputy Brown did not seek medical treatment but rather wanted to continue working.

The next day when he did not show up for work, a co-worker went to his house to check on him and found Deputy Brown unconscious. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he died four days later. A Cook County pathologist testified that a blood clot in Deputy Brown's neck, caused by the head-butt from King, led to a stroke that killed him. The medical examiner ruled that his death was a homicide and King was tried and convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Deputy Brown was a 14-year veteran of the Cook County Sheriff's Office.