Baltimore detectives Felton (Daniel Baldwin) and Howard (Melissa Leo) investigate the murder of a tourist who was shot to death in front of her husband Robert Ellison (Robin Williams) and their two young children. The case receives considerable attention from the press and police officials. Ellison struggles with feelings of helplessness and guilt, and becomes offended by the insensitivity of the detectives investigating the case. When the seemingly good-natured 19-year-old Vaughn Perkins (Lloyd Goodman) is identified as the shooter, Howard becomes convinced he is taking the fall for his friends, and desperately tries to learn the truth while Felton closes the case.