Original subtitles

The story you are about to see

was inspired by actual events.

The names have been changed

to protect the innocent.

*

It was Sunday.

It was hot in Los Angeles.

My partner and I were working

the day shift out of robbery-homicide.

The call came on an overflow case

from 77th Division.

Their detectives were swamped with

five gang-related murders

in less than 48 hours.

It was a bloody weekend,

even for the 77th.

The precinct is comprised of 12 square miles of land,

home to 175,000 people.

It has five percent of L.A.'s population.

It has 45 percent of L.A.'s homicides.

It is the deadliest police precinct in America.

My name's Friday.

I'm a cop.

Welcome to the Terrordome, boys.

Just couldn't stay away, could you, Coop?

Guess not.

Mom caught a stray bullet on her way out

from Sunday school.

Any witnesses?

Not in this neighborhood.

Excuse us!

Coming through.

Looks like she died in a crossfire.

We found some blood at the convenience store

parking lot on the corner over there.

Got some casings and pulled out

a few slugs out of the wall of the church.

Check the ERs at County and the MLK.

See if any gunshot victims came in.

And, uh, have a uniform pass out some cards

to the witnesses.

When these people feel comfortable,

we'll have them give us a call.

What's your best guess?

Black Hood Bloods from up around Hoover.

This is Crips territory, yo.

L.A.'s worst, man!

Showing up just in time to bag the body.

You ought to be down here doing your job!

Shut up!

Shut up.

Don't pour gas on a fire.

*

Ballistics found no riflings

on any of the recovered slugs.

Too damaged.

That's why gangbangers use hollow points.

What about the canvas?

I got a witness who describes

the shooters as two black guys

in a dark-colored sedan.

So, I pulled the list of the Black Hood Bloods

off Cal Gangs,

cross-referenced that with the dark sedan.

You got the Yellow Pages?

Over 400 matches.

I don't think it was Bloods.

Your boys in the 77 seem to think so.

Don't listen to Velasquez.

Fool still thinks "Colors" is current events, man.

I worked the 77th for over 10 years.

Most of the violence I saw was Crips on Crips.

What set this wave off?

There's been a lot of violence

over the last few years

from parolees going home.

Those guys who got swept up in

the drug busts from the early '90s

making their way back to South Los Angeles.

They lost their status in the gang since

they've been in the joint.

They want it back.

And the young gangbangers

who took over don't wanna relinquish control?

The five victims from this weekend

were from different crews of the same gang.

Eight Ball of Crips.

You think it's a civil war?

Unless we get someone on the inside,

there's no way to know what's really going on.

You got somebody in mind?

I know a dealer operates out of a bar

controlled by Eight Ball

from when I did undercover there last year.

He's been up twice on gang-related stuff

and knows a lot of homies.

He'd be looking at a third strike.

*

Play ball.

*

A buy and a bust is the oldest

trick in the book for developing

a street informant.

There's a reason for that.

It's a good trick.

Looks like you got the best hand

working that royal flush.

You got that stuff for me.

Pshaw, you know I gots the kill, man.

What you need?

Some woolies, playa.

This is what I want you to do, all right?

Roll around back.

Just wait at the corner, all right?

You my dog.

*

*

All good, your move.

*

Let's get away from the bar.

I don't wanna do this in front of his friends.

*

*

*

Down!

*

Oh, man.

Man, you trying to kill me, dude?

Wow, man.

This ain't even right.

Man, I see what's...

All right, all right, all right.

*

*

*

Oh man, you gotta be kidding me, dog!

Oh, you done--

Man, you played me, man.

Hey, man, I got mouths to feed.

Oh, man, wow.

You know what, man?

This fool right here, okay,

he need an Oscar, dude,

'cause I had no idea he was a cop.

It's an informant release.

It states that you understand working with us

will put you in harm's way,

and that if anything should happen,

you will not hold the LAPD responsible.

Oh, I ain't signing that

just so you can string

me out there to get killed.

Hey, man, some of these fools

is crazy, all right?

Look, I don't know if you know this,

but they ain't handing out passes

for snitches.

We're not gonna put you in a bad position.

Oh!

You funny, man.

Why should I believe you, Sidney Poitier?

'Cause you're no good to us dead.

Well, um...

Okay, you know what?

What kind of guarantees

do I get?

I guarantee that if you don't sign that,

you will go to Pelican Bay.

Okay, um, well, see...

You know, the OGs, you know, they--

they would set up these robberies

at superstores or whatever, right?

Now, the Young Gs, you know,

they'd come and meet them

in the parking lot

on their bikes.

You know, get the guns.

Hit up the spot

and give the booty

to the OGs in the getaway.

Now, of course, you know,

the Young Gs,

they wasn't getting they split,

so they start complaining.

The next think you know, man,

you had the OGs

versus the Young Gs.

Which side are you on?

Me?

I kick it the both sides,

you know, just to keep the peace, man,

'cause you know I ain't even trying to get involved,

man, you know.

My banging days is over.

We need information about a drive-by

that took place this past Sunday

on Western.

An innocent lady was hit by a stray bullet.

We believe one of the targets was hit.

You know, I'm-- I'm gonna need

some time to work on that.

You know what I'm saying?

I mean...

Just, you know, I'm gonna put my ear to the street.

You feel me, man?

Caught in the middle, my ass.

He's still banging his head off.

I bet you lunch we never see him again.

I'll take that action.

He's looking at serious time.

*

That's one lunch you owe me.

I thought you were coming alone.

Hey, this is my cover.

He's helping me out so I don't get made.

That's why we're not on Slauson.

Hey, man, you know what?

You can never be too careful.

This is my brother, Lil Mo.

We got something to talk about?

Yeah, we got something to talk about.

Why don't you and me roll over there

so the boys can talk?

Go ahead.

*

Remember me?

Come on.

Take a good look.

*

You a hard little banger, aren't you?

*

You don't talk much, do you?

Not to popo.

You been to juvie yet?

Too smooth.

Uh-huh.

Ain't gonna be real smooth

when you end up at PB or Preston.

They'll like you up there at Pelican Bay.

What, you trying to scare me or something?

I ain't trying to scare nobody, man.

*

Know what your brother's doing over there?

Falling off.

Well, you better keep your mouth shut.

You know why?

*

Huh?

Look at me.

*

You love your brother, right?

*

I heard the shooter that capped that lady

is a dude named Keith.

Keith what?

Keith Elliot.

He goes by the name Ghost Dog.

Look him up, I know he got a rap sheet.

What you got against Ghost Dog?

Hey, man, look.

You want my information, all right?

I'm here to inform you.

Look, all I know is that Ghost Dog

is staying in the old pink house

just south of 66th and Normandy.

Hey, man, why you gotta be throwing me

all that attitude?

I mean, you can tell pink, right?

All right, good, man.

Hey, Little Mo.

Let's get some ice cream.

We appreciate you helping us in our

investigation, Mr. Pierce.

Yeah, well, I don't mind helping.

Long as nobody knows it.

Do you recognize any of these men

from the crime scene?

That one.

Take your time, Mr. Pierce.

I don't forget no faces.

It was that one there.

Keith Elliot, aka Ghost Dog.

I'm Detective McCarron.

I want a lawyer.

You got one.

That ain't no lawyer, G.

That fool trying to get up out of here

and back to Brentwood by 6:00.

Look at him.

You got a bad attitude for someone who might

be going back to the joint.

I ain't done nothing, man.

No drive-bys?

My nose is clean, homie.

I've been going to work in San Pedro.

You ask Bob.

My PO know everything I do.

I don't know where you were on Sunday.

I ain't shot nobody on Sunday.

I was at my cousin's.

What's his name?

Bob knows him.

And your cousin's gonna tell me

you were at his house?

Yeah.

What's he gonna say you were doing?

We was watching football.

What game?

Yo, man.

I ain't done nothing.

Why don't you talk to these people, Bob?

Got the results of the pee test back.

I'm gonna have to violate you.

For what?

Grass.

I ain't had no smoke.

What were you doing on Sunday?

I was at a convenience store.

I felt something hot on my arm.

I thought somebody spilled coffee

or something on me, man.

But them fools shot me.

From a car?

- Yeah. - Who?

Didn't see.

Who do you got beef with?

Some of the Young Gs or what?

*

I look like a snitch to you, homie?

*

B-Mo gave us a bad tip.

He gave us the victim not the shooter.

Was it a deliberate lie?

Was he scared?

Or did he just need a little encouragement?

*

Hello?

Is B-Mo here?

He in the back?

Gonna tell Friday we went with him

at the Avalon?

Friday never worked at 77th.

Hey guys.

Yo, yo, yo, yo.

Yo, yo, yo.

♪ This is B and Lil Mo ♪

♪ I got the hottest beats and all the honeys know ♪

♪ I'm runnin', I'm stunnin' ♪

♪ I'm comin', I'm drummin' yo ♪

♪ This is real, the real deal ♪

♪ Holyfield ♪

♪ I steal for the thrill ♪

♪ Then I just sit back and I, I, I chill ♪

♪ Yo, this is B and Lil Mo ♪

♪ I got the hottest beats and all the honeys know ♪

♪ I'm runnin', I'm stunnin' ♪

♪ I'm comin', I'm drummin' yo ♪

♪ This is real, the real deal ♪

Whoa.

Sorry, man.

I didn't mean to interrupt your concert.

Wasn't having no concert.

It's cool.

I've been there, dog.

Where B-Mo?

I don't know.

You gonna make me take you down

and sweat you, dog?

Crips right to beef.

I got ways of making you talk.

Ain't gonna work.

Too hard?

Hell yeah.

Where he at?

Friend's house?

Girlfriend's house?

Nah.

Where she stay at?

On the block?

Nah, she live up in Baldwin Hills.

She live on the block.

I just told you, she live--

I know she lives on the block

'cause B-Mo is too lazy

to go too far even for some booty.

This block?

Across the street?

Damn, that is lazy.

*

*

Crystal, who's--oh!

Yo, man, what is this, man?

Whoa, okay!

All right, cool, cool.

Yo.

Man, look, dude.

I already told you everything

I already know, man.

You're a liar.

What did I lie about?

Come on, dog, dog.

Man, this ain't even necessary right now.

Wow.

Yo, man.

I ain't no snitch, yo.

Don't even worry about it, little homie.

*

Drive up on Manchester,

take a right.

When you get to the Pacific Motor Lodge,

drive slow.

I want the homies to get a real good look

at homie here in the backseat.

I'd say you got about two minutes

before we get there.

Didn't inform too good.

Ghost Dog wasn't the shooter, he got shot.

Halfway till the posse gets

a good look at you.

Hey, hey, yo.

Hey, homie, cool out, Andretti.

Two blocks.

Oh.

*

All right, man, all right, all right, man.

Just take me to the po, man.

Man, these fools gonna kill me, man.

Just take me to the po.

♪ I X you out if you don't give me

that X amount ♪

♪ Exorcist style, Linda Blair you ♪

♪ I steal when I'm flooded anchors ♪

♪ You better hide your face ♪

♪ Hoover throw a lot away to get you killed ♪

♪ And filled with a lot of little hot ones

from shotgun pumps ♪

♪ Chill, drop and done ♪

♪ Hey, yo, money, drugs, and guns, and... ♪

♪ That ish got all my livin' ♪

♪ And come and ride with all my-- ♪

We talked to Ghost Dog.

He--he didn't say anything

about me, did he?

A lot of what he said confused us.

He said the Young Gs did the drive-by,

which is the opposite of what you said.

That's confusing.

Then he shows where he was shot by the Young Gs

in the drive-by.

Okay, look, look, man.

I'm just caught between a rock

and a hard place.

I mean, if I drop a dime on the OGs, I'm dead.

Okay, if I drop a dime on the Young Gs,

I'm still dead.

I mean, it's all bad for me, man.

But you dropped a dime on the OGs

and on Ghost Dog.

Yeah, you know, lesser of the two evils.

Hey, man, I'm just trying to help

y'all out, all right?

You know, I mean, I take my responsibility serious.

Who from the Young Gs pulled that drive-by?

Denzel, man, you told me you wasn't gonna

leave me in a bad position.

We gotta know, B-Mo.

You want to work the case off,

you got to give it up.

Look, man, y'all don't wanna mess

with this fool, man.

I mean, this cat is like Billy the Kid.

I mean, he--he shot a dude for snoring too loud, man.

For snoring!

I mean, he's like 16, 17,

already capped, like, 6 or 7 fools, man.

Name.

D-Roc.

Didn't catch that.

D-Roc.

Can you setup a meeting with him?

No, no, no, man.

You don't understand, man.

Okay, this fool is crazy, all right?

Man, look, look.

Man, yo, yo.

Yo, Ghost Dog?

All right, he was hard,

but he ain't nothing next to D-Roc, man.

I mean, I'm telling you, man...

there ain't something right with him, man.

Man, look, I already told you

everything I already know.

What's his real name?

I don't know.

Ronald something.

I think he stay out at 42nd Street.

*

*

Hello?

I'm Detective Cooper.

This is Detective McCarron.

Looking for Ronald Colemann.

Y'all want some tea?

Clear.

D-Roc.

Miss Colemann?

We'd like to talk to your grandson, Ronald.

Do you know where we could find him?

Ronald?

Which one's he?

We think this is him.

That was when my husband died.

Miss Colemann.

Who looks after you?

Nobody looks after me.

I can take care of myself.

I ain't got...

Miss Colemann.

Who fetches your groceries for you?

Your medicine?

My grandson.

I think you'll find out more about D-Roc's posse,

hit the high school.

Security chief at Jackson's my boy.

Good.

And I think maybe security at the house--

Not worth it.

Velasquez is buried in robberies in North Hollywood.

We should see if we can dig up any cells

or pages listed to Colemann.

These bangers are pretty obvious.

How long you worked gangs?

Six big ones.

Undercover off and on.

Wouldn't transfer you?

I wanted gangs.

Enjoy punishment.

Grew up in the 77.

And you just had to give back.

Some people do give back, Jimmy.

That is right.

I have a dream.

This should be good.

I have a dream that a little boy

growing up south of Slauson

and north of Manchester

can one day see 5-0 and not feel fear

or resentment.

I have a dream that--

You know what?

I'm eating lunch.

I'm a soldier in God's army.

Laugh if you want.

You're a heathen, Jimmy.

Dammit.

1-8-7.

*

Thank you.

What happened?

AVA NHI.

AV--what?

A-hole versus a-hole.

No humans involved.

*

Who got capped at the bar?

*

It's B-Mo.

*

He gonna make it?

Chest wound.

He's critical.

*

Switching on his O2.

Okay.

Get a new set of vitals.

*

He's running at 120.

Bring in a new line.

*

I'm gonna try for a dying declaration.

B-Mo.

This is Detective McCarron.

You realize your injuries are very serious

and will result in your death?

Oh, man.

I was just...

I was just doing my business, man.

Do you now believe you're about to die?

*

You need to speak up so we can hear it on tape.

Oh, yeah, man.

I know I'm dying.

Tell me who shot you.

*

We're losing him.

He's in V-FIB.

Clear.

Not good, he's still in V-FIB.

Clear!

He's not responding.

Clear.

*

Nothing yet.

One more time.

Clear.

*

*

Dammit!

*

Seven homicides in 72 hours

a few blocks from where he grew up.

No witnesses either, huh?

Few shell casings.

Run 'em through ballistics.

Maybe we can get a match on the firing pin.

Don't make this complicated.

B-Mo dropped information on two guys.

Ghost Dog, the OG,

and D-Roc, leader of the young crew.

We start there.

*

♪ We're coming to get you, man ♪

♪ That's right ♪

Ghost Dog's parole officer

gave us an address where to find him.

Pacific Motor Lodge.

Hangout for the OG set.

*

Second floor number 12.

♪ Black tees, black shirt ♪

♪ Black hat ♪

♪ Sawed off shotgun ♪

♪ Already cocked back ♪

♪ Black bandanna over my face to match ♪

♪ All black color like you know

they wanna catch me ♪

♪ These dudes are tripping ♪

♪ Got me loading my gang

hitting right up the wall ♪

♪ Crippin' is hardcore ♪

Oh, no, no, no!

Stay there.

Who are you?

What's it look like?

I'm Sherm.

Look, look, look.

You ain't gonna run me in, are you?

I just got my buzz on.

I'm looking for Ghost Dog.

Ghost Dog?

Boxes of shells.

Empty 40s.

A war party.

It looked as if Ghost Dog and the OGs

had launched a final offensive against

the Young Gs.

The OGs gonna take back the Eight Balls.

The OGs are tired of these fools

running around they backs.

We had missed our shot at Ghost Dog.

But hopefully Cooper and McCarron could

track down D-Roc.

*

Look, I know you want to,

but you can't blame yourself

for what happened.

It's hard not to, Jimmy.

That's the life.

It's calculated risk.

You gotta take chances,

otherwise, what?

We write parking tickets for a living?

*

Hey, man.

I'm not gonna tie myself.

Just a thing, man.

Give me some time.

That's right.

It's just a thing.

In the meantime, we stop the killing.

*

That's right.

But we're not gonna get D-Roc by rolling up

undercover in an ND sedan

on 42nd Place.

No?

We gotta draw him out.

*

Appreciate you letting us into your home like this.

Yeah, just do what you gotta do

to get this neighborhood cleaned up.

I got kids, you know?

See that paramedic?

He's pretending to treat D-Roc's grandmother.

Why's he willing to help us?

A couple of months when the junkie he was working with

tried to stab him.

Think this'll work?

See that little homie on the bike over there?

That's the lookout.

D-Roc's gonna know his grandmother

ain't feeling too good before too long.

What's the over/under?

In under two.

Double or nothing for lunch.

Hey.

Well, I got some good news.

I just got a call from the 77th.

Ghost Dog was picked up on a DUI.

He's packing.

Yeah.

May match our casings.

He's down at Division,

I'm having him brought up now.

Here's D-Roc.

Joe, I gotta go.

Time to bum rush the show.

*

D-Roc, LAPD.

*

Get down!

*

Get up against the--

Get up against the wall.

Yeah, yeah!

Shut your mouth!

Shut up and stay put.

Put that gun down, see how bad you are.

Yeah, yeah, I'd like to go one-on-one

with you, boy.

Shut your mouth.

Come on.

*

Let me take this one.

*

Well, you did it, D-Roc.

You thug life, playa.

You have the right to remain silent.

You have the right to an attorney.

Any statement you give can be used against you

in a court of law.

I ain't talkin', cuz.

I know you killed B-Mo.

He told me before he died.

So, it ain't a matter of whether or not

we pin this on you.

It's pinned, all right.

I'm on you

and I ain't coming off.

You are going down.

Man, I ain't killed B-Mo.

You killed him.

Drivin' him around.

Homie needed to get tightened up.

Yeah?

McCarron, it's Velasquez.

Another drive-by?

Not exactly.

Not another drive-by.

What is it then?

You guys should just get down here.

It's better if you just come.

All right.

*

You know how many of these I've been to?

One more won't hurt you.

I've been telling these mothers

not to joke at the crime scene.

And it's finally been getting through.

- Hey, Velasquez. - Yeah.

No racist jokes today, man?

*

*

They sprayed 'em with a Mag 10.

Never had a chance.

*

D-Roc's crew.

*

Honey, it's okay.

We'll take care of you now, it's okay.

It's all right.

Let's go back this way.

Come on.

*

There were all these Young Gs.

They were hanging out with D-Roc

and playing a videogame on the TV.

And then I heard the shooting.

You were scared, weren't you?

I'll bet you were.

Anybody would be scared if that happened.

I'd be scared, too.

So, after you heard the guns...

what happened next?

People hollering.

What people?

What were they hollering?

He was looking for D-Roc.

And did you try to hide?

Mm-hmm.

Where'd you hide, in the kitchen?

*

In the bathroom.

Neicy, what happened when you were in the bathroom?

*

It's okay, honey.

It's okay.

Nothing's gonna happen.

I got you.

Okay?

I got you.

We can stop here, Mrs. William.

Thank you.

I saw him.

You saw the man with the gun?

Mm-hmm.

Now, do you think that you can remember

what he looked like?

Oh.

It's okay.

*

Okay, now remember.

You can see them,

but they can't see you.

I'm scared.

You're gonna do just fine.

*

Turn left.

*

Turn right.

*

Front.

*

It wasn't none of them.

Look one more time.

*

Hats off.

*

He wasn't that tall.

*

I ran down Ghost Dog's cell records at the time

of the shootings.

Looks like he was in West Hollywood.

Neicy was telling the truth.

Ballistics needs two more days

on the slugs from the garage,

but I did get back a report on the slugs

from B-Mo's killing.

Doesn't match the gun we found in Ghost Dog's car.

Ghost Dog did not kill B-Mo.

Doesn't look that way.

D-Roc doesn't know what happened

to his posse, yet, does he?

He's been in custody overnight.

Bring him up.

*

Come here, D-Roc.

*

*

Never judge a book by its cover.

You look at D-Roc and you have to wonder

who, if anyone, is inside.

Stone killer.

A man who actually feels.

Or maybe both.

D-Roc couldn't look under the last five sheets.

It was too much to confront who else

might be dead.

I knew D-Roc had killed B-Mo,

and I knew he would never tell me.

But grief can expose the truth.

I know you didn't think this was gonna happen.

But this is payback for B-Mo, isn't it?

*

Yeah.

*

Did you kill B-Mo?

*

*

Think about that garage.

You ever seen anything like that?

No.

Enormity of this.

The scope is enormous.

Wasn't so much a shooting,

it was a massacre.

An annihilation.

Whoever did it wasn't thinking about getting

away with it.

He was thinking about revenge.

About B-Mo.

Killer was close to him.

We all know where this is going.

*

We rushed over as soon as we got the call.

Kid's holed up inside with a gun.

Lieutenant.

You gotta let me have a shot at this.

Not a good idea.

He's gonna hold you responsible for his

brother's death.

I gotta have a chance to work this out.

*

Little Mo.

This is Detective Cooper.

Can you hear me?

I would like to help you get out of this

without you or anyone else getting hurt.

*

You must understand that we are not

going to go away, Lil Mo.

The house is surrounded.

There's nowhere for you to go.

*

It's all gonna be over soon.

May be suicidal.

Call him on it.

Hold your fire.

Everybody okay.

I'm good.

- Coop? - Yeah, I'm good.

*

Patrol.

This is Four King Twenty Lincoln.

Reporting shots fired by possible 1-8-7

suspect at location.

Request tac alert.

*

Don't shoot!

Lil Mo.

It's me.

Cooper.

Don't shoot, don't shoot!

*

Lil Mo...

you done showed everybody.

*

You hard, man.

*

I know why you did it, man.

*

I understand.

*

I'm sorry about B-Mo.

*

I'm sorry

about your brother.

I told D-Roc.

*

Told D-Roc what?

*

About my brother.

Easy, Mo.

*

I got you, Mo.

*

I got you.

*

*

Okay, come on, let's go.

Come on.

Come on!

Their first murder.

It's a big deal.

Why don't you give it a break?

What, did you forget what it's like

working the 77th?

Tomorrow you're gonna be back downtown

working OJ and Baretta

and all that other Hollywood crap.

And we're here dealing with these...

animals.

All right, all right, all right, hey, hey.

Knock it off.

Knock it off!

Knock it off!

Get--hey!

Go home.

Go home!

Come on, let's go.

Come on.

A dramatic standoff with police ended tonight

with the surrender of a teen believed

to be responsible for the gang massacre

that took place just yesterday.

The suspect, a 13-year-old male,

went on a killing spree that claimed 10 lives

before surrendering to police in South Los Angeles.

That makes a total of 17 gangland murders

in six days,

officially making Los Angeles

the murder capital of the nation.

Joe, Jimmy.

Coop, how you doing?

Go fishing.

Definitely.

*

Seventeen in six days.

That's got to be some kind of record.

*

You got a dream, remember?

*

Yeah.

*

It's a dream all right.

*

*

Ronald Colemann was convicted

of first degree homicide

for the murder of Evan Guy,

aka B-Mo,

and is currently serving a life sentence

at Pelican Bay.

Maurice Guy, aka Lil Mo,

was tried as an adult and convicted for 10 murders,

including the 77th massacre.

He was sentenced to life in prison

without the possibility

for parole.

*

*