Subsequent investigation determined Sharrett was shot a single time by his commanding officer, then-Lieutenant Timothy Hanson.
[6] After graduation, Sharrett considered college but instead opted to work several odd jobs, telling his family he was not ready to continue his education.
However, Sharrett eventually enlisted in September 2006, hoping to serve a three-year Army tour and then return home to complete a degree and become a history teacher.
[6] In the days leading up to his death, Sharrett had indicated displeasure with the post, reportedly telling his father during a conversation, "We're doing too much stupid stuff.
[1][9] Shortly before 05:00 local time, overhead observers spotted six men running single file through a palm grove outside of town.
The six men, apparently unarmed, sprinted across a field before taking cover in an oval-shaped thicket of branches and vines, as observed by nearby helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
At 05:07, Team 6 disembarked from its helicopters, equipped with night vision devices, as there was no ambient light and conditions were reportedly pitch black.
They were also equipped with infrared flashing lights visible only though night vision, which serve as Identification friend or foe {IFF} tags.
By then, Hanson radioed the helicopter that they were under attack as Sharrett sprinted to the west side of the thicket, taking a position next to Sigsbee, remaining quiet and motionless approximately 4 feet (1.2 m) from the brush as the insurgents continued to fire their weapons from it.
[1] In the meantime, Team 4 called in close air support and overhead Black Hawk helicopters attacked the brush with machine guns until at 06:10 it was discovered that the six insurgents were dead.
In his statement, Hanson said he hit the ground as the shooting started and fired six to 10 shots at the thicket, and then stated he saw Sharrett and Sigsbee "lying face down no more than 10 feet from the enemy position."
[1] In the meantime, the US military reported on 18 January that Sharrett, Sigsbee and Kimme were killed in a grenade attack, withholding specifics of the incident.