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[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: IN JUNE 1999,
26-YEAR-OLD LaTANYA HAGGERTY DIES FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND.
HER LIFE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
THIS YOUNG LADY SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY.
Narrator: HER UNTIMELY DEATH SPARKS THE LARGEST LAWSUIT
THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAS EVER SEEN.
SHE SAID, "WELL, TELL THEM $95 MILLION."
Narrator: BUT INSTEAD OF HELPING THE FAMILY HEAL,
THE RECORD-BREAKING PAYOUT SPARKS A FAMILY FEUD.
Diane: THEY DENIED HER WHAT SHE WAS ENTITLED TO.
THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN
A CLOSE FAMILY TODAY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: JUNE 4, 1999.
LaTANYA HAGGERTY IS SHOT WHILE ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK
IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE.
CHICAGO POLICE CALLS LaTANYA'S BROTHER,
MAURICE HAGGERTY JR., TO TELL HIM HIS SISTER IS HURT.
YEAH, THAT'S ME.
Tom: MAURICE JR. WAS INCREDIBLY CLOSE TO LaTANYA.
THEY LIVED TOGETHER.
HE DID EVERYTHING FOR HER
IN TERMS OF WHAT A BIG BROTHER WOULD DO FOR A LITTLE SISTER.
HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS SISTER.
YOU KNOW, I THINK LaTANYA HAGGERTY WAS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS HE HAD IN HIS LIFE.
I'LL BE RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU.
Narrator: MAURICE JR. AND HIS MOTHER, BARBARA,
RUSH TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE AT LaTANYA'S SIDE.
Tom: LaTANYA AND HER MOM WERE THE VERY BEST OF FRIENDS.
IN FACT, THE MOM, FOR LaTANYA, WAS SORT OF YOUNG-AT-HEART,
AND A VERY YOUNG-AT-HEART PERSON BECAUSE OF LaTANYA.
AND THEY WOULD --
THEY WERE MORE LIKE SISTERS IN MANY RESPECTS.
Narrator: WHEN THEY ARRIVE, MAURICE JR. AND MOTHER, BARBARA,
LEARN THE HORRIBLE TRUTH.
LaTANYA IS DEAD.
SHE'S BEEN SHOT, AND NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY.
Todd: I RECALL THE POLICE WERE NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD
WITH ANSWERS TO THE FAMILY.
THEY KNEW THEY HAD A BAD SHOOTING ON THEIR HANDS,
AND THEY WERE NOT FORTHCOMING WITH INFORMATION
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
I KNOW THE FAMILY WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THAT.
Narrator: IN FACT, SHE DIES BEFORE EVEN REACHING THE HOSPITAL.
HER FAMILY WILL NEVER SEE
THEIR BELOVED DAUGHTER AND SISTER ALIVE AGAIN.
PLEASE BE SEATED.
LaTANYA IS SURVIVED BY HER MOTHER, BARBARA,
FATHER, MAURICE SR.,
BROTHER, MAURICE JR., AND SISTER, BARBARA FRYE,
AS WELL AS A HALF-BROTHER, STEVEN FLOURNOY,
ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE.
THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED EMERGE SLOWLY.
Paul: HERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHO WAS A PROMISING YOUNG LADY,
HAD A PROMISING FUTURE,
WORKING EVERY DAY AND LIVING A GOOD LIFE,
GOOD CHRISTIAN YOUNG LADY WHOM LOVED HER FAMILY,
AND THEN FOR HER LIFE TO BE SNUFFED OUT?
Narrator: IN 1999, LaTANYA HAGGERTY'S LIFE IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
SHE'S RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY,
AND SHE'S NEWLY ENGAGED.
James: SHE WAS PROBABLY THE STAR OF THAT FAMILY.
SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THREE CHILDREN
WHO COMPLETED COLLEGE
AND WAS PROBABLY A PERSON
WHO HAD BIG PLACES TO GO IN HER LIFE.
Narrator: THE 26-YEAR-OLD LIVES WITH HER PARENTS,
AND SHE HAS CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH HER SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS.
SHE HAD A TERRIFIC PERSONALITY.
SHE HAD TONS OF FRIENDS
FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE,
AND SHE WAS WORKING, AT THAT TIME,
FOR THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA,
SORT OF A START-UP JOB FOR HER OUT OF COLLEGE.
Narrator: NO ONE -- NOT LaTANYA, NOT HER FAMILY --
EVER EXPECTED THAT HER LIFE WOULD COME TO A TRAGIC END.
Todd: LaTANYA SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY'S SISTER.
SHE WAS OUTGOING, WELL-SPOKEN.
SHE WAS EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE AUNT, I UNDERSTAND.
SHE WAS JUST A GREAT PERSON.
SHE NEVER HAD ANY SORT OF PROBLEMS IN HER LIFE.
Narrator: AS THE GRIEF-STRICKEN FAMILY
TRIES TO COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR LOSS,
IT IS MAURICE JR. WHO KEEPS ASKING THE QUESTION, "WHY?"
Tom: HE WANTED THIS CASE INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY, FULLY,
AND TO HAVE ALL STONES UNTURNED.
AND HE WAS VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS.
DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!
Narrator: BUT WHAT MAURICE JR. DISCOVERS AS THE DAY GOES ON
ONLY MAKES HIM MORE ANGRY.
IT WAS NONE OTHER THAN A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER
WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER THAT KILLED HIS BABY SISTER.
ON JUNE 4th, THE DAY OF THE SHOOTING,
LaTANYA GETS A RIDE HOME FROM WORK
FROM HER FRIEND 24-YEAR-OLD RAYMOND SMITH.
Todd: IT WAS LIKE ANY COMMUTE,
ANYBODY LEAVING FOR WORK, GOING HOME,
AND FOR SOME REASON,
ABOUT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY,
RAYMOND SMITH'S CAR DREW THE ATTENTION OF POLICE.
James: HE STOPPED TO SPEAK WITH A FRIEND
AS HE WAS DOUBLE-PARKED,
AND A POLICE CAR CAME UP AND TOLD HIM
TO GET THAT HUNK OF JUNK OUT OF HERE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: SMITH OBLIGES THE OFFICERS AND MOVES HIS VEHICLE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
BUT BEFORE HE CAN GO ONE BLOCK,
THE SAME OFFICERS HAVE PUT THEIR FLASHING LIGHTS ON.
Todd: THEY PULLED HIM OVER, AND HE STOPPED,
AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF WHAT WOULD BE A SERIES OF TRAGIC EVENTS.
Narrator: ONE OF THE POLICEMEN, OFFICER WILLIAMS,
APPROACHES SMITH'S CAR.
James: THE OFFICER PULLED HIM OVER
AND SAID, "PUT THAT WINDOW DOWN,"
AND HE REFUSED TO PUT HIS WINDOW DOWN.
OH, HE ASKED HIM FOR HIS LICENSE,
AND HE SHOWED HIM HIS LICENSE BUT THROUGH THE WINDOW.
Williams: I SAID PUT YOUR WINDOW DOWN!
HE SAYS, "PUT THE WINDOW DOWN BEFORE I BREAK IT,"
WHEREUPON THE YOUNG MAN TOOK OFF RUNNING IN THE CAR,
AND THEY CHASED HIM, CALLING OTHER OFFICERS
TO CUT HIM OFF AT ANOTHER CORNER.
Narrator: FOR OFFICER WILLIAMS AND HIS PARTNER, DANIELS,
THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON FOR SMITH TO RUN.
THEIR SUSPICIONS ARE IMMEDIATELY AROUSED.
Todd: I CAN'T GET INTO RAYMOND SMITH'S MIND
TO FIGURE OUT WHY HE DROVE OFF.
DID HE REALLY FEAR
THAT THE POLICE WERE GONNA BEAT HIM?
DID HE REALLY FEAR THAT THIS WAS GONNA ESCALATE?
AND SMITH'S SPLIT-SECOND DECISION TO RUN IS
THE FIRST IN A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT LEADS TO TRAGEDY.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
THE POLICE SERGEANT TOLD THE OFFICERS IN PURSUIT,
"STOP THE PURSUIT."
YEAH, THEY JUST -- THEY GOT OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES,
AND THEY OPENED FIRE ON THE CAR.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Narrator: JUNE 4, 1999.
26-YEAR-OLD LaTANYA HAGGERTY
AND HER FRIEND 24-YEAR-OLD RAY SMITH
ARE BEING CHASED BY CHICAGO POLICE.
IT WILL NOT END WELL
AND WILL LEAVE HER FAMILY AND THE CITY
CLAMORING FOR ANSWERS.
NEWS OF LaTANYA HAGGERTY'S DEATH IS PLASTERED ALL OVER THE MEDIA,
AND THE MOURNING HAGGERTY FAMILY WANTS JUSTICE.
THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THEIR FIGHT.
Tom: THERE WERE TWO KILLINGS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE
ALMOST THE SAME AGE, WHO WERE BOTH COLLEGE-EDUCATED --
TWO TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED SHOOTINGS
WITHIN A DAY OF ONE ANOTHER.
AND SO THE CLIMATE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
AT THAT TIME, THE PEOPLE, IT WAS VERY HIGHLY CHARGED.
IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL.
AND IT WAS FRONT-PAGE NEWS FOR WEEKS.
Narrator: CHICAGO IS ON EDGE, THE TENSION FUELED
BY THE SHOOTINGS OF TWO ORDINARY CITIZENS BY COPS
ON THE SAME NIGHT IN UNRELATED INCIDENTS.
Todd: YOU HAD TWO AFRICAN-AMERICANS KILLED
WITHIN EIGHT OR NINE HOURS OF EACH OTHER,
BOTH DURING TRAFFIC STOPS.
BOTH WERE UNARMED.
IRONICALLY, BOTH WERE KILLED
BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS.
AND THESE OFFICERS DID NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF POLICE BRUTALITY.
THESE OFFICERS DID NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF NECESSARILY DOING
A LOT OF THINGS WRONG OR BAD -- HAVING A BAD BACKGROUND.
Narrator: BAD BACKGROUND OR NOT,
THE OFFICERS HAVE SHOT AN INNOCENT CIVILIAN.
FUNDAMENTALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS THAT POLICE OFFICERS BELIEVE IN THE CODE OF BLUE.
THEY STICK TOGETHER ON EVERYTHING.
BLACK OFFICERS TEND TO MIMIC
OFFICERS WHO MAY BE ACTING OUT OF RACIAL MOTIVATIONS.
[ CROWD SHOUTING ]
Narrator: MAURICE HAGGERTY JR. DEMANDS THAT POLICE INVESTIGATORS
FIND OUT ALL THEY CAN ABOUT HIS SISTER'S DEATH.
POLICE BRUTALITY BECAME A REAL, NATIONAL ISSUE
WITH THE RODNEY KING CASE,
AND THEN CHICAGO WOUND UP HAVING ITS OWN
WITH LaTANYA HAGGERTY.
AND PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED.
THEY WERE TIRED OF THIS LACK OF SENSITIVITY,
THIS BLUE VERSUS BLACK,
AND THE ATTACK UPON FAMILY MEMBERS
THAT PEOPLE BEGAN TO CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE.
Narrator: A FULL POLICE INQUIRY IS LAUNCHED,
AND THE FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED,
AS WELL AS THE DRIVER OF THE CAR, RAY SMITH,
TESTIFY BEFORE A POLICE BOARD.
Todd: THERE WAS A SIX-DAY POLICE-BOARD HEARING,
RUN SORT OF LIKE A CRIMINAL HEARING,
IN WHICH WITNESSES ARE CALLED AND EVIDENCE IS PUT ON.
AT THE CLOSE OF THAT SIX-DAY HEARING,
A TRANSCRIPT, WHICH WAS MORE THAN A 1,000 PAGES,
GOES TO A SEVEN-MEMBER POLICE BOARD.
THEY READ THE TRANSCRIPT,
AND THEY DETERMINE THE FATE OF THE OFFICERS.
Narrator: MAURICE JR. IS AT THE HEARINGS EVERY DAY.
RAYMOND SMITH IS CALLED
TO TESTIFY TO A PACKED COURTROOM.
SMITH EXPLAINS WHY HE DROVE OFF
WHEN OFFICERS DANIELS AND WILLIAMS
COMMANDED HIM TO STOP.
Paul: MANY YOUNG PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH OFFICERS STOPPING THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE --
THEY WERE HARASSED.
James: WELL, KEEP IN MIND THAT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO,
IF YOU ARE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN
AND YOU HAVE LIVED HERE FOR SOME TIME, I MEAN,
YOU KNOW DARN WELL THAT THERE IS
A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT A GOOD ONE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: JUNE 4, 1999.
DRIVER RAYMOND SMITH AND PASSENGER LaTANYA HAGGERTY
ARE PURSUED BY CHICAGO POLICE.
A PANICKED RAYMOND CALLS HIS MOTHER,
WHO IS IN THE HOSPITAL,
TO TELL HER THAT HE'S SCARED
AND HE'S GOING TO TRY AND DRIVE TO HIS FATHER'S HOUSE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
LaTANYA HAGGERTY SITS NEXT TO HIM, TERRIFIED.
THE PURSUIT IS HEATING UP.
Tom: FOUR OFFICERS IN TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES WERE
PURSUING RAY SMITH AND LaTANYA.
[ BELL RINGING ]
Narrator: AND BEFORE LONG, THEY'RE BLOCKED BY A PASSING TRAIN.
RAY AND LaTANYA TURN THEIR CAR AROUND.
BY NOW, TWO MORE OFFICERS HAVE JOINED THE CHASE
FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR OFFICERS IN PURSUIT.
Todd: LaTANYA HAS NO IDEA WHY THESE POLICE ARE
CONTINUING TO PURSUE HER.
THE POLICE OFFICERS JUST GOT
SO FIXATED ON RAYMOND SMITH'S CAR,
GOT SO FIXATED ON STOPPING RAYMOND SMITH,
THEY JUST SORT OF LOST ALL SORT OF EVIDENCE
OF WHERE THEY WERE, ALL RATIONALITY.
RAYMOND AND LaTANYA FIND THEMSELVES CORNERED
JUST OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY.
AT THE POINT AT WHICH THEY REACH 95th AND COTTAGE GROVE,
AN INTERCEPTING VEHICLE CAUSED RAY TO STOP.
AT THAT POINT, THE OFFICERS EXITED THEIR VEHICLES
WITH GUNS DRAWN
AND APPROACHED HIS VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT.
Tom: AND THEY STARTED SHOOTING AT RAY SMITH'S CAR.
THEY WERE SHOOTING RECKLESSLY AT THE VEHICLE
FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHATSOEVER
OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ANGRY
THAT THEY WERE PURSUING SOMEBODY
THAT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THEM TO PURSUE.
James: RAY, BEING AFRAID AGAIN, PUT HIS CAR IN REVERSE
AND SPEEDED AWAY FROM THEM,
DURING WHICH THEY FIRED A VOLLEY OF SHOTS AT HIS CAR.
STRIKING HIS CAR, INDEED.
OF COURSE, IT PUT OTHER PEOPLE IN DANGER
WHO MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS STRUCK, JUST THE VEHICLE.
Tom: AT THAT POINT, THERE WAS A SERGEANT
WHO WAS LISTENING TO THE PURSUIT,
AND AS THEY GOT BACK INTO THEIR VEHICLES,
AS RAY SMITH CONTINUED, NOW GOING NORTHBOUND
TO TRY TO GET AWAY
FROM THESE OFFICERS WHO WERE SHOOTING AT HIM,
AND THE OFFICER SAID,
"IF THEY'RE WANTED FOR TRAFFIC, TERMINATE THE PURSUIT."
AND THESE YOUNG OFFICERS SAID, "10-4."
10-4.
James: THEY NONETHELESS CONTINUED THE PURSUIT,
IN VIOLATION OF POLICE PRACTICES AND POLICE GENERAL ORDERS.
Narrator: RAY AND LaTANYA HEAD OFF AT FULL SPEED.
ABOUT SIX MINUTES LATER,
SMITH PULLS OVER IN FRONT OF THE CHICAGO CRUSADER.
Tom: HE WENT AND DROVE TO 64th AND COTTAGE GROVE,
WHERE HIS UNCLE, JOHN SMITH,
OWNED A SMALL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER.
Todd: RAYMOND SMITH WAS IN FEAR FOR HIS LIFE,
THOUGHT THE POLICE WERE GONNA KILL HIM
OR SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM,
SO HE WAS TRYING TO GET A WITNESS,
TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE INVOLVED,
SOMEBODY WHO COULD HELP HIM.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: BUT THE OFFICERS ARE RIGHT BEHIND HIM.
Todd: THE POLICE OFFICERS JUMPED OUT OF THEIR CAR,
WENT OVER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF RAYMOND SMITH'S CAR,
AND BEGAN TO WRESTLE WITH HIM AND PULL HIM OUT OF THE CAR.
LaTANYA HAGGERTY IS IN THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER
ON A CELLPHONE.
James: WHEN THE POLICEMAN GRABBED HIM, FORCIBLY TOOK HIM OUT OF THE CAR
AND TOOK HIM TO THE GROUND...
PLEASE, STOP!
STOP!
Narrator: SMITH DOESN'T FIGHT BACK
AS BOTH OFFICERS WILLIAMS AND CARTER PUNCH AND KICK HIM.
THE ONE WHOM ORIGINALLY STOPPED HIM WAS
A VERY TALL, MUSCULAR OFFICER.
A PROFESSIONAL BOXER WITH THE POLICE LEAGUE.
THERE WAS ALREADY SOME TENSION, SOME CONCERN,
AND ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT TYPE OF SITUATION.
BUT THE SITUATION IS ONLY ABOUT TO GET WORSE.
Todd: A POLICE OFFICER BY THE NAME OF SERENA DANIELS IS
AT THE REAR OF THE CAR AND HAS HER GUN PULLED.
HER GUN IS TRAINED ON LaTANYA HAGGERTY.
LaTANYA'S, AGAIN, IN THE FRONT SEATS.
Narrator: OFFICER DANIELS YELLS TO LaTANYA
FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR.
"GET OUT OF THE CAR.
GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND PUT YOUR HANDS UP!"
Narrator: SOMEONE FIRES A GUN.
RAYMOND HEARS THE SHOT
WHILE BEING HELD FORCIBLY ON THE GROUND.
HE TRIES TO LOOK UP AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
IT WAS THE CLASSIC "OH, [BLEEP]" MOMENT.
"I'VE MADE A MISTAKE."
Narrator: ON JUNE 4, 1999,
26-YEAR-OLD LaTANYA HAGGERTY IS SHOT WHILE ON HER WAY HOME.
A POLICE-BOARD HEARING REVEALS THE DEVASTATING DETAILS
OF THE EVENTS THAT LED UP
TO THE YOUNG WOMAN'S UNTIMELY DEATH.
IT'S THE MOMENT EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR,
ESPECIALLY THE HAGGERTY FAMILY.
THE OFFICERS INVOLVED TAKE THE STAND TO EXPLAIN
WHAT ULTIMATELY LED SERENA DANIELS
TO SHOOT AND KILL 26-YEAR-OLD LaTANYA HAGGERTY.
Todd: AND IT WAS JUST VERY CHARGED WITH PEOPLE.
LaTANYA HAGGERTY'S FAMILY WAS THERE.
THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE WAS THERE.
OFFICERS IN SUPPORT OF THE OFFICERS
WHO WERE ON TRIAL AT THIS POLICE-BOARD HEARING WERE THERE.
Narrator: AS THE DETAILS OF THE DAY EMERGE,
THE HAGGERTY FAMILY LOOKS ON
WITH A GROWING SENSE OF SADNESS AND FRUSTRATION.
FORENSIC DETAILS EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW THE YOUNG WOMAN DIED.
Tom: THE SHOT CAME FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE
OF THE VEHICLE.
IT WENT THROUGH THE REAR DRIVER'S WINDOW
IN A DIAGONAL FASHION
AND WENT FROM AN UPWARD DIRECTION
TO A SLIGHTLY DOWNWARD DIRECTION
THROUGH LaTANYA'S SHOULDER INTO HER HEART.
Todd: FOR THE POLICE OFFICER, THEIR POSITION HAS BEEN,
RAYMOND SMITH, HE'S THE REASON LaTANYA HAGGERTY IS DEAD.
ALL'S HE HAD TO DO WAS STOP, NOT KEEP DRIVING,
WIND HIS WINDOW DOWN,
HAND HIS CARD OVER TO OFFICER MIKE WILLIAMS,
AND NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
THAT'S THEIR POSITION.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY HAD BEEN ORDERED
TO TERMINATE THE PURSUIT,
AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED
RECEIVING THAT ORDER, THEY WERE HIGHLY EMOTIONAL.
THEY WERE HIGHLY CHARGED.
THEY ABANDONED THE TRAINING THEY RECEIVED,
AND THEY WERE USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.
STOP! STOP!
Narrator: ALL EYES ARE ON OFFICER SERENA DANIELS
AS SHE TAKES THE STAND.
Todd: IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL DAY
WHEN OFFICER DANIELS TOOK THE STAND.
SHE WAS CRYING.
SHE WAS VERY REMORSEFUL OVER LaTANYA HAGGERTY'S DEATH.
AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME, PUBLICLY,
THAT SERENA DANIELS GAVE HER SIDE OF WHAT HAPPENED.
SHE SHOT, AND SHE SAID,
"THE REASON I SHOT IS BECAUSE THERE WAS CRACKLED GLASS THERE,
"AND I COULDN'T TELL WHAT LaTANYA HAGGERTY HAD
"IN HER HAND.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A WEAPON."
Narrator: OFFICER DANIELS IS BOOED AND HISSED AT
IN THE PACKED COURTROOM.
IT IS OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE
THAT THE PRECEDING DAYS HAVE TAKEN A TREMENDOUS TOLL ON HER.
IT WAS SHINY. IT WAS SILVER.
HER VERSION DIFFERS FROM OTHERS WHO WERE THERE.
Todd: THERE WERE SOME WITNESSES THERE.
OBVIOUSLY, THE AREA OF 64th AND KING DRIVE
IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, AT THAT TIME OF THE DAY,
THAT EVENING IN JUNE, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT.
IT IS A BUSY AREA.
THERE WAS A CROWD AROUND THE CAR.
THERE'S A PUBLIC-HOUSING PROJECT
RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THERE.
Paul: THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO SAW WHAT HAPPENED.
CERTAINLY, I REMEMBER SOME OF THE CONVERSATION
THAT WAS GOING ON OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.
THE FIRST RUMOR WAS THAT SHE HAD A LOCK IN HER HAND.
THE NEXT RUMOR WAS THAT IT WAS A GUN.
BUT CERTAINLY, IT WAS NEITHER ONE.
IT WAS A CELLPHONE.
THEY SHOT HER FOR A CELLPHONE.
Narrator: OFFICERS DANIELS' TESTIMONY IS
BOTH HEARTRENDING AND DEVASTATING.
BUT PARTS OF HER ACCOUNT BECOME SUSPECT
AS FURTHER EVIDENCE IS REVEALED.
Tom: IT TURNS OUT THAT JOHN SMITH, RAY SMITH'S UNCLE,
HAD TAKEN A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VEHICLE
AFTER THE SHOOTING
THAT SHOWED THERE WAS
NO CRACKLING GLASS THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.
DURING THE POLICE-BOARD HEARING,
THE REASON THEY WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THAT STORY IS
THE ONLY PICTURES THEY HAD WERE
BY THE FORENSIC POLICE DEPARTMENT DOING
AN INVESTIGATION.
BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED AT THE SCENE,
THE GLASS HAD CRACKLED FROM THE GUNSHOT.
Todd: THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK SHE STILL BELONGS ON THE FORCE,
THAT SERENA DANIELS RIGHTFULLY FEARED FOR HER LIFE.
SHE DID SEE THIS SILVER MOVEMENT IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR
WHILE HER PARTNERS ARE VIOLENTLY WRESTLING WITH THE DRIVER,
AND SHE FIRED BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT
SHE WAS ABOUT TO BE SHOT AT.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Tom: WHEN SHE DISCHARGED HER WEAPON,
THE FIRST WORDS THAT CAME OUT OF HER MOUTH WERE,
"OH, [BLEEP]"
WE KNOW FROM COMMON EXPERIENCE, WHEN WE USE THAT EXPRESSION,
AN ACCIDENT JUST HAPPENED.
Narrator: BUT FOR THOSE CLOSE TO LaTANYA,
SERENA DANIELS' WORDS CONFIRM WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW.
LaTANYA WAS UNARMED.
Tom: SO AS SOON AS SHE SHOT THAT WEAPON,
SHE KNEW SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT,
BUT THE ADRENALINE TOOK OVER HER MIND AND TOOK OVER HER BODY,
AND SHE SHOT AND KILLED AN INNOCENT PERSON.
Narrator: OFFICER DANIELS TESTIFIES
TO HOLDING HAGGERTY IN HER ARMS AS THE YOUNG WOMAN DIES.
Tom: SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY IN SHOCK,
AND THEN HER HUMAN EMOTIONS TOOK OVER,
AND SHE WENT OVER AND CRADLED HER
AND WAS LOOKING AT HER
AND WAS OBVIOUSLY IN SHOCK AT WHAT SHE HAD JUST DONE.
Todd: WHEN SOMETHING REACHES THIS PROPORTION,
IT'S NEVER JUST ONE MISTAKE.
IT'S ALWAYS A SERIES OF MISTAKES.
IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE THINGS,
THEN THE BIG THINGS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
AND EVERY LITTLE THING THAT WENT WRONG WENT WRONG
AND ENDED UP IN A BIG THING -- A PERSON DEAD.
Narrator: AT THE END OF THEIR DELIBERATIONS IN MARCH OF 2000,
THE POLICE BOARD DETERMINES
THAT ALL FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED SHOULD BE FIRED.
JUST OVER A YEAR LATER, IN JUNE OF 2001,
CIVIL COURTS DECIDE
THREE OF THE OFFICERS SHOULD BE REINSTATED,
BUT NOT SERENA DANIELS, THE SHOOTER.
MAURICE JR. LAUNCHES A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY
FOR THE WRONGFUL DEATH OF HIS SISTER.
HE ENLISTS HEAVYWEIGHTS JOHNNIE COCHRAN
AND JAMES MONTGOMERY AND THEIR FIRM.
James: WHEN I FIRST MET THE FAMILY
AND SPOKE WITH BARBARA HAGGERTY, THE MOM,
BASICALLY, WE WERE PRETTY WELL CONVINCED
THAT THIS WAS A CASE THAT WE COULD SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTE.
AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT GETTING JUSTICE.
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO MAKE A DEMAND BY THE CITY,
I MET WITH THE HAGGERTY FAMILY, AND I BASICALLY SAID THAT,
YOU KNOW, "THIS IS A CASE THAT THE CITY WILL LIKELY SETTLE
"FOR SOME SUBSTANTIAL MONEY,
BUT THEY'VE ASKED US TO MAKE A DEMAND."
Narrator: THE HAGGERTYS ARE ADVISED
THAT TAKING THE CASE THROUGH THE COURTS WOULD BE
A LONG AND TRAUMATIC AFFAIR FOR THE FAMILY.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THEY TRY
TO SETTLE WITH THE CITY OUT OF COURT.
James: SHE SAYS, "WELL, I'M SORRY. I JUST WANT JUSTICE."
I SAID, "WELL, BARBARA, YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
YOU GOT TO ASK THEM FOR -- JUST GIVE ME A NUMBER."
SHE SAID, "WELL, TELL 'EM $95 MILLION."
I SAID, "BARBARA, THAT NUMBER WILL NOT BE
CONDUCIVE TO A SETTLEMENT."
Narrator: THE CITY CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS CASE GO TO TRIAL
BOTH BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE IT WOULD DO
TO CHICAGO'S REPUTATION AND BECAUSE OF THE COST.
Todd: THE CITY KNEW
WHAT THEIR MOCK JURIES HAD TOLD THEM --
THAT, IF THIS DOES GO TO TRIAL,
YOU'RE GONNA PAY A LOT MORE THAN $18 MILLION.
AND THE CITY DECIDED TO SETTLE.
I THINK THE CITY OF CHICAGO WANTED TO SETTLE THIS CASE
FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
BUT THE BIGGEST REASON IS
THAT THEY COULDN'T ADMIT LIABILITY
BECAUSE SERENA DANIELS WAS NOT GOING TO ADMIT
THAT SHE SHOT LaTANYA HAGGERTY UNJUSTIFIABLY
BECAUSE SHE WAS FACING
POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES IF SHE DID.
Narrator: IN JULY OF 2000,
THE HAGGERTYS ARE FINALLY AWARDED $18 MILLION,
A RECORD AMOUNT.
BUT WHEN THE SETTLEMENT GOES TO PROBATE, THERE'S A HITCH.
TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE,
AN UNEXPECTED CLAIMANT ARRIVES ON THE SCENE.
Tom: SHARON ROQUE WAS SOMEBODY
WHO BASICALLY CAME OUT OF NOWHERE
ONCE THE SETTLEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED
IN TERMS OF WANTING MONEY.
Narrator: THE SHOOTING AND KILLING OF LaTANYA HAGGERTY
IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE BY A POLICE OFFICER
HAS CITIZENS PROTESTING POLICE BRUTALITY
ACROSS THE CITY.
THE SHOOTING ALSO LEADS TO A HEATED POLICE-BOARD HEARING
AND THE LARGEST LAWSUIT FOR WRONGFUL DEATH
AGAINST CHICAGO TO DATE.
26-YEAR-OLD LaTANYA HAGGERTY'S UNTIMELY DEATH
LEAVES HER FAMILY EMOTIONALLY BROKEN.
THE HAGGERTYS' $18 MILLION SETTLEMENT IS
DIVIDED BETWEEN LaTANYA'S PARENTS,
HER BROTHER, MAURICE JR., HER SISTER,
AND LaTANYA'S HALF-BROTHER ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE,
STEVE FLOURNOY.
THE LAW FIRM GETS A THIRD.
BUT THEIR BATTLE FOR JUSTICE TRIGGERS
YET ANOTHER EMOTIONAL LEGAL FEUD
WHEN AN UNEXPECTED CLAIMANT ARRIVES TO COLLECT HER SHARE.
SHARON ROQUE, LaTANYA'S HALF-SISTER
THROUGH ANOTHER MOTHER,
LIVES IN TEXAS, MILES AWAY FROM THE HAGGERTY FAMILY IN CHICAGO.
ESTRANGED FROM HER FAMILY,
ROQUE HEARS ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT
AT THE SAME TIME AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY --
ON THE 10:00 NEWS.
Diane: THEY LET HER IN, AND THEN THEY PUSHED HER OUT.
THEY SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED EVERYONE, ALL FAMILY MEMBERS,
IN THE SETTLEMENT.
INSTEAD, THEY DENIED HER WHAT SHE WAS ENTITLED TO.
THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN
A CLOSE FAMILY TODAY.
Todd: I DID NOT KNOW LaTANYA HAGGERTY HAD A HALF-SISTER.
I COVERED THIS CASE FOR SEVERAL YEARS
AS IT BEGAN FROM 1999 INTO 2001 INTO 2002.
SO FOR THREE YEARS, AND I NEVER BUMPED INTO HER,
NEVER TALKED TO HER.
SHARON ROQUE WAS LaTANYA'S OLDEST SISTER.
SHARON WAS RAISED
IN A DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLD FROM LaTANYA.
SHARON WAS BORN IN TEXAS.
THEY WERE RELATED THROUGH THEIR FATHER,
MAURICE HAGGERTY SR.
SHARON WAS BORN OUTSIDE OF WEDLOCK
AS THE CHILD OF MAURICE HAGGERTY SR.
AND HER MOTHER.
Narrator: AFTER SHARON WAS BORN,
MAURICE HAGGERTY SR. MARRIED BARBARA
AND HAD ANOTHER SET OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING LaTANYA, THE BABY.
SHARON FOUND OUT THAT SHE EVEN HAD
A NATURAL FATHER WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 10 OR 11 YEARS OLD.
SO SHE DIDN'T KNOW UP UNTIL THEN.
SHE MET LaTANYA FOR THE FIRST TIME
ABOUT TWO OR THREE SUMMERS BEFORE SHE WAS SHOT.
BUT THE HAGGERTYS ARE NOT SO QUICK
TO WELCOME SHARON INTO THEIR LIVES,
AND ONE EXPENSIVE QUESTION REMAINS.
IF SHARON ROQUE IS ACTUALLY ENTITLED
TO A SHARE OF THE $18 MILLION,
WHY WASN'T SHE AT LaTANYA'S FUNERAL?
ON THE NIGHT OF LaTANYA'S DEATH,
SHARON IS CALLED BY A FAMILY MEMBER AT HOME.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
BUT IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOW,
SHE IS ODDLY NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION.
Tom: SHARON ROQUE WAS SOMEBODY
WHO BASICALLY CAME OUT OF NOWHERE
ONCE THE SETTLEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED
IN TERMS OF WANTING MONEY.
HERE'S SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T EVEN ATTEND LaTANYA'S FUNERAL.
Diane: SHARON DEFINITELY WANTED TO GO TO THE FUNERAL.
SHE DID EVERYTHING IN HER POWER TO CONTACT FAMILY MEMBERS
SO SHE COULD GET INFORMATION REGARDING IT,
AND IT JUST WASN'T FORTHCOMING.
Narrator: DAYS PASS.
SHARON NEVER GETS A RESPONSE FROM THE HAGGERTYS.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
Todd: MAURICE HAGGERTY DID NOT BELIEVE
THE STEPSISTER PLAYED A ROLE IN LaTANYA'S LIFE,
WAS NOT A FACTOR IN HER LIFE,
WAS NOT EMOTIONALLY INVESTED IN LaTANYA'S LIFE THAT --
I BELIEVE HE FELT SHE WAS OPPORTUNISTIC.
THE ONLY EXPLANATION I COULD FIND IS
THAT PERHAPS LaTANYA'S PARENTS HAD A CHANGE OF HEART ABOUT HER.
James: I WOULD SAY THAT MAURICE SR. WAS INDICATING
THAT THIS LADY WAS NOT HIS DAUGHTER,
AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, I CAN'T SAY.
I CAN'T SAY IT HAD TO DO WITH MONEY
BECAUSE MAURICE SR. WAS NOT SOMEONE WHO WAS
REALLY THAT CONCERNED ABOUT MONEY.
HE HAD LIVED A DECENT LIFE, WORKED LIFE,
AND HAD SUPPORTED HIS FAMILY WELL.
Narrator: AFTER HER HALF-SISTER'S TRAGIC DEATH,
ROQUE IS CONTACTED BY ATTORNEY THOMAS MARSZEWSKI
FOR HER PERMISSION TO MAKE MAURICE JR.
THE INDEPENDENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE.
SHARON ROQUE WAS CONTACTED BY ME
AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS LITIGATION
BECAUSE SHE WAS LISTED AS A NEXT OF KIN
IN THE AFFIDAVIT, AND THEREFORE,
SHE'S ENTITLED TO NOTICE OF REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ESTATE
WHERE SHE'S A NEXT OF KIN.
AND I PROVIDED HER WITH A TECHNICAL WAIVER OF NOTICE,
WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS, "YES, I KNOW ABOUT THIS CASE,
"AND I AGREE TO HIM BEING THE REPRESENTATIVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ME FORMAL NOTICE," SO TO SPEAK.
Diane: HE ALSO SENT HER A WAIVER OF ANY RIGHTS
IN SOME OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT LaTANYA HAGGERTY HAD.
SO HAD HE -- IF HE DIDN'T BELIEVE
THAT SHE WAS LaTANYA'S SISTER,
I JUST DON'T SEE WHY HE WOULD HAVE BOTHERED TO DO THAT.
WELL, I WAS JUST A LITTLE SURPRISED
THAT SHARON ROQUE WAS CLAIMING TO BE INTERESTED
IN PART OF THE SETTLEMENT PROCEEDS
FROM LaTANYA HAGGERTY'S WRONGFUL-DEATH SETTLEMENT
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE
AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH LaTANYA HAGGERTY.
Narrator: ROQUE SIGNS THE PAPERWORK FOR THE HAGGERTYS
AND FAXES IT BACK TO THOMAS MARSZEWSKI,
NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
BUT AS TIME PASSES, SHE DOES NOT HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.
ONCE NEWS OF THE SETTLEMENT BREAKS,
SHARON TRIES TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FAMILY AGAIN.
TO SOME, HER MOTIVES ARE SUSPICIOUS.
Todd: I DID NOT SEE HER IN COURT.
I DID NOT SEE HER AT THE POLICE-BOARD HEARINGS.
MAURICE WAS FIGHTING THE FIGHT FOR HIS SISTER.
Tom: THEY SEE THAT THERE'S A LARGE CHUNK OF MONEY,
AND THEY DECIDED THEY WANT SOME OF IT,
AND SO THEY FIND REPRESENTATION AND REQUEST
PART OF THE DIVISION OF THE PROCEEDS.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO ROQUE,
HER RELATIONSHIP WITH LaTANYA STEMMED FROM A PHONE CALL
THAT ROQUE PLACED TO HER FATHER, MAURICE SR.
WHEN SHE WAS AN ADULT, THAT'S WHEN SHE STARTED TO --
SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO KNOW HIM,
AND SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HIM.
Narrator: MAURICE SR. PUT LITTLE LaTANYA ON THE PHONE.
Diane: SHARON AND LaTANYA SPOKE PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST TIME
WHEN LaTANYA WAS A LITTLE GIRL, ABOUT 6 OR SO.
LaTANYA TOLD SHARON WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE
THAT WHEN SHE GREW UP, SHE WAS GONNA COME AND VISIT HER.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DID.
WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 23 OR 24, SHE TOOK A TRIP TO TEXAS,
AND SHE CAME AND STAYED WITH SHARON.
THEY WENT SHOPPING AND DID OTHER THINGS TOGETHER --
THE MOVIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
Narrator: WHILE SHARON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REST OF HER FAMILY
DOES NOT DEVELOP, SHE CLAIMS HER CONNECTION
WITH HER LITTLE SISTER LaTANYA IS STRONG.
SHARON BASICALLY CLAIMED THAT SHE HAD ENGAGED
IN MANY TELEPHONE CALLS TO HER FATHER,
THAT AFTER SHE HAD MET LaTANYA,
THAT SHE HAD CALLED LaTANYA ON THE PHONE
AND TALKED TO HER A NUMBER OF TIMES.
AND, OF COURSE, THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WE COULDN'T VERIFY.
AND SO WE HAD TELEPHONE RECORDS PRODUCED
THAT DIDN'T REFLECT THAT THERE WAS
THE KIND OF CALLS THAT SHE HAD REFERRED TO.
Narrator: BUT THEY NEVER GET TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN.
LaTANYA IS KILLED EARLIER THAT SAME SUMMER.
Tom: THE TYPE OF THINGS WE DO
TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE
HAPPENS ON A DAILY AND A WEEKLY BASIS,
NOT A ONE-TIME VISIT
AND TALKING ABOUT THE WOULD HAVE AND COULD HAVES
IN THE FUTURE.
Narrator: BACK IN TEXAS, SHARON ROQUE CONTINUES TO WAIT,
BUT A RETURN CALL FROM THE HAGGERTYS NEVER COMES.
WHEN SHE DOES NOT HEAR ANYTHING CONCERNING THE SETTLEMENT
FROM HER HALF-BROTHER,
SHE DECIDES TO CONTACT ATTORNEY DIANE AINSWORTH.
Diane: WELL, INITIALLY, I EXPLORED
THE POSSIBILITY WITH SHARON OF A SETTLEMENT.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS SOME MISTAKE IN THE PAPERWORK.
I PULLED THE PROBATE-COURT FILE,
AND I SAW THAT HER NAME WAS INCLUDED
ON THE INITIAL PETITION AS AN HEIR.
AND SO I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE
TO CONTACT THE HAGGERTYS' LAWYERS
AND SEE IF THEY WOULD CORRECT THAT.
Narrator: BUT THE EXPLANATION THAT DIANE WAS GIVEN WAS
THAT THE PROBATE-COURT JUDGE HAD
REMOVED SHARON ROQUE FROM THE HEIRSHIP PETITION.
...HOW IT'S POSSIBLE THAT A FAMILY DOESN'T...
Diane: WHEN I REALIZED THAT THEY HAD DECIDED
THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE ANY OFFER
AND THEY WERE GOING TO FIGHT ABOUT IT,
THEN I DOUBTED THE VERACITY OF THAT EXPLANATION.
AND THEN IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT MAYBE --
MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
THAT MS. HAGGERTY SAID IN HER DEPOSITION.
AND SHE SAID THAT SHARON TOLD HER
THAT SHE WAS BORN IN 1956.
NOW, THE HAGGERTYS WERE MARRIED IN 1956.
Narrator: THE 1999 SHOOTING
OF INNOCENT VICTIM LaTANYA HAGGERTY SPARKS
ONE OF THE LARGEST LAWSUITS IN CHICAGO'S HISTORY.
BUT AN EVEN BIGGER FIGHT ENSUES
WHEN LaTANYA'S HALF-SISTER, SHARON, IS LEFT OUT
OF THE $18 MILLION SETTLEMENT THE FAMILY RECEIVES.
ACCORDING TO THE HAGGERTYS' LAWYERS,
A JUDGE RULED THAT BECAUSE LaTANYA AND SHARON SHARED
A FATHER AND NOT A MOTHER,
THE JUDGE FOUND THAT SHARON WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO INHERIT,
EVEN THOUGH LaTANYA'S HALF-BROTHER, STEVE,
ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE RECEIVED AN EQUAL SHARE.
James: I THINK EXPLAINS ITSELF.
THEORETICALLY, IF THE MOTHER IS THE COMMON PARENT,
THEN OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE ALL HALF OF THE HALF BLOOD.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE FATHER IS THE PARENT,
HE COULD ONLY BE THE PARENT OF ONE AND NOT OF ALL.
[ Chuckling ] SO, THERE YOU ARE.
THAT WAS AN INTRIGUING ASSERTION BY THE HAGGERTYS' ATTORNEYS.
Narrator: IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S NO DOUBT WHO THE MOTHER IS,
BUT THE FATHER CAN BE IN QUESTION.
Diane: I SAW THE AFFIDAVIT OF THEIR ATTORNEYS,
AND THEY WERE RELYING ON THAT SECTION
IN DENYING SHARON'S ADMISSION AS AN HEIR TO THAT ESTATE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE APPLICABLE LAW.
FOR DIANE AINSWORTH,
IT APPEARS THAT SOMEONE HAS NOT DONE THEIR HOMEWORK.
THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A HALF-BROTHER
WHO HAD BEEN INCLUDED SEEMED TO SUGGEST
THAT THEY HAD LEGITIMATE GROUNDS TO APPEAL THIS DECISION.
HE RECEIVED HIS SHARE OF THE SETTLEMENT.
NO ONE CONTESTED HIS RELATIONSHIP TO LaTANYA,
AND HE STATED IN HIS DEPOSITION THAT HE GREW UP IN TEXAS.
HE WAS RAISED BY HIS GRANDPARENTS.
HE DID NOT GROW UP IN THE HAGGERTY HOUSEHOLD.
James: LaTANYA'S HALF-BROTHER, STEVEN,
WAS A VERY CLOSE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
WHO VISITED CHICAGO ON A REGULAR BASIS
AND WHO RECEIVED VISITS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS
OVER THE YEARS.
SO THERE WAS NO QUESTION IN ANYBODY'S MIND
OR IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP
BUT THAT HE WAS A GENUINE HALF-BROTHER
TO MAURICE JR. AND BARBARA.
Diane: WHY WASN'T SHARON INCLUDED?
I THINK THE -- I KNOW THAT MAURICE JR. HAD STATED
IN HIS DEPOSITION --
HE MADE SOME VAGUE ALLUSION TO OTHER --
THAT MAURICE SR. MIGHT HAVE HAD OTHER CHILDREN.
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: A THEORY AINSWORTH HOLDS IS
THAT BARBARA HAGGERTY MISTOOK THE YEAR OF ROQUE'S BIRTH,
ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVING SHARON WAS CONCEIVED
DURING HER MARRIAGE,
MAKING EITHER SHARON A FRAUD OR MAURICE SR. UNFAITHFUL.
Diane: I THINK THAT SHARON --
THE REAL MOTIVATION BEHIND SHARON'S DESIRE
TO FIGHT IN THIS CASE WAS REALLY BORN OUT OF A DESIRE
TO BE RESPECTED, TO BE RECOGNIZED,
TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY HER FATHER AND HER OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.
Narrator: AFTER AN EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTING BATTLE
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE COURTROOM,
IN NOVEMBER OF 2002,
SHARON ROQUE AND ATTORNEY DIANE AINSWORTH
FINALLY WIN THEIR SUIT AGAINST THE REST OF THE HAGGERTYS,
AND SHARON IS AWARDED
A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE SETTLEMENT.
THE HALF-SISTER'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HAGGERTY FAMILY IS
MORE STRAINED THAN EVER BEFORE.
STILL, SHARON ROQUE KEEPS TRYING TO CONNECT WITH THEM.
I THINK MAURICE WAS NOT UNSYMPATHETIC TO SHARON.
MAURICE WAS, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THE BIDDING OF HIS FATHER.
AND I THINK THAT, IF HE HAD HIS WAY,
THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
ANY ISSUES OR CONTESTS OVER THE MONEY.
WHAT THE SETTLEMENT DID FOR SHARON,
IT SAID TO HER, "YOU KNOW WHAT? I DO COUNT.
"I AM A PART OF THIS FAMILY EVEN IF THERE ARE
SOME AMONGST THE FAMILY WHO DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT ME."
LaTANYA REPRESENTED SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TO SHARON.
LaTANYA WAS REALLY THE KEY,
THE GLUE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF HER FAMILY,
THE FAMILY THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW.
Narrator: A YOUNG WOMAN WHOSE ABSENCE WILL NEVER BE FILLED
BY AN $18 MILLION SETTLEMENT
THAT ONLY SERVED TO FURTHER TEAR HER FAMILY APART.
James: I THINK THAT MANY TIMES, PEOPLE WANT
SOME PUBLIC VINDICATION IN A TRIAL.
AND I THINK
THAT'S WHAT BARBARA HAGGERTY HAD IN MIND.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
YOU CAN NEVER GET YOUR CHILD BACK,
AND IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE,
THAT THE ONLY JUSTICE THAT SHE COULD REASONABLY EXPECT
WOULD BE IN TERMS OF GETTING PAID
FOR THE LOSS OF THE SOCIETY AND COMPANIONSHIP
OF THAT DAUGHTER.
IT SEEMS THAT THE LEGACY OF LaTANYA HAGGERTY
HAS BEEN A FOUNDATION FOR CHANGE
AS IT RELATES TO RACIAL PROFILING,
POLICE BRUTALITY.
MANY PEOPLE GIVE REFERENCE TO HER CASE,
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE NOW CAN SEE
THAT HER LIFE WAS NOT IN VAIN, BUT IT WAS USED IN ORDER TO HELP
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS TO RECEIVE JUSTICE.