On the evening of March 5, 1770 a skirmish occurred between Boston colonists and British militia stationed at the State House. The situation escalated, growing violent as blunt objects were thrown and a cacophony of shouting erupted. In the height of commotion, the word “fire” was uttered by an unknown party, and the soldiers, with muskets aimed toward the crowd, pulled their triggers. This resulted in the deaths of five civilians—Crispus Attucks, Samuel Maverick, James Caldwell, Samuel Gray, and Patrick Carr.