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Narrator: AN ASPIRING ARTIST WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH COLLEGE,
A TEENAGE RUNAWAY WRESTLING WITH HIS RISING ANGER --
IN JUST OVER 28 HOURS, FATE WILL DRAW THEM TOGETHER.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
SOMETIMES, TWO LIVES CROSS PATHS,
AND A KILLER AND VICTIM COLLIDE HEAD-ON IN A FATAL ENCOUNTER.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
IT'S JANUARY, 1995 --
A MILD WINTER IN SUNNY SAN DIEGO,
AND 20-YEAR-OLD TARIQ KHAMISA
IS ON THE PATH TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.
A STUDENT AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY,
HE IS WORKING TOWARDS A CAREER IN THE ARTS.
WELL, HE WAS A GREAT WRITER AND A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER.
HE HAD A REAL EYE FOR THE CAMERA.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
HIS DREAM WAS TO WORK FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
SO HE COULD MARRY HIS PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY
AND HIS LOVE FOR WRITING.
Narrator: TARIQ HAS ALSO FOUND LOVE IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE.
HE'S JUST PROPOSED TO HIS GIRLFRIEND, JENNIFER,
AND THEY'VE MOVED IN TOGETHER.
SHE IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHY SUBJECTS.
HE DID TAKE PICTURES OF JENNIFER,
BUT WHEN SHE WAS NOT LOOKING.
JUST HER DOING EVERYDAY THINGS IN THEIR LITTLE, TINY APARTMENT.
IT'S GOOD. WHAT?!
I'M TRYING TO STUDY.
NO, I KNOW. AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
THEY WERE REALLY KINDRED SPIRITS.
YOU COULD TELL THAT --
THE ENERGY THAT THEY EXUDED WHEN THEY WERE TOGETHER.
LIKE -- LIKE THIS.
WHATEVER DECISIONS THAT THEY WERE GONNA MAKE WITH THEIR LIFE
MOVING FORWARD, THEY WERE GONNA DO TOGETHER.
Narrator: TO HELP SUPPORT THE TWO OF THEM
WHILE HE'S IN SCHOOL,
TARIQ WORKS PART-TIME.
TARIQ FOUND A JOB AND DECIDED TO WORK FOR DiMILLE'S RESTAURANT --
IT'S A LOCAL ITALIAN RESTAURANT --
AS A PIZZA DELIVERY BOY ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS.
Alael: HE LOVED THAT JOB.
HE WAS REALLY HAPPY.
HE WAS, I THINK, FINALLY STARTING TO STAND ON HIS OWN.
Narrator: A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD,
TONY HICKS, A 14-YEAR-OLD 8th-GRADER,
IS MAKING HIS WAY THROUGH THE JUNGLE OF YOUNG ADULTHOOD.
AFTER STRUGGLING TO RAISE HIM IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES,
TONY'S MOTHER SENT HIM TO SAN DIEGO
TO LIVE WITH HIS GRANDFATHER PLES FELIX.
HEY.
PLES WAS SOMEONE
WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE EASIEST TIME GROWING UP,
BUT HE MANAGED TO MAKE SOMETHING OF HIMSELF.
HOW'S SCHOOL?
[ CHUCKLES ]
HE WENT IN THE ARMY, HE WAS A GREEN BERET,
HE HAD A STEADY JOB WITH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.
Narrator: PLES, WHOM TONY CALLS "DADDY,"
IS A LOVING BUT STRICT FATHER FIGURE.
I THINK THAT THE DISCIPLINE THAT HE LEARNED IN THE MILITARY
WAS SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED TO PASS ON TO TONY.
SCIENCE?
I'M OKAY.
ALGEBRA?
IT WAS...OKAY.
Felix: TONY WAS A CAN'T-DO KID.
HE WAS EASY TO SAY, "DADDY, I CAN'T DO THIS.
I CAN'T DO THAT."
SO, I WAS DETERMINED RIGHT AWAY TO BE PATIENT,
TAKE THE TIME, AND TEACH TONY STEP-BY-STEP
HOW TO DO BASIC THINGS FOR HIMSELF AS A YOUNG MAN.
AND IT DIDN'T TAKE HIM LONG TO REALLY JUMP INTO
THE SCHEME OF THINGS
AS A MUCH MORE CONFIDENT, SELF-SUFFICIENT KID.
WELL, I'M GONNA DO IT RIGHT NOW, SO I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
[ Chuckling ] OKAY.
DINNER WILL BE READY SOON.
Narrator: TONY AND TARIQ HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON --
BOTH YOUNG MEN ARE COMING OF AGE IN THE SAME TOWN.
BUT THOUGH THEY LIVE JUST A FEW MINUTES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER,
THEY ARE WORLDS APART.
AND IN LESS THAN TWO DAYS,
A SERIES OF COINCIDENCES AND CLOSE CALLS
WILL BRING THEM TOGETHER
FOR A VIOLENT AND DEADLY CONFRONTATION.
IT'S FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1995,
AND TARIQ IS BEGINNING HIS SHIFT AT DiMILLE'S RESTAURANT.
YEAH, I'M COMING!
IT'S A TYPICAL FRIDAY EVENING FOR HIM.
HE WAS HIRED AS A DELIVERY DRIVER FOR US.
THERE WAS A LOT OF SIDE WORK INVOLVED
TO GET READY FOR A NIGHT.
HE'D HAVE TO MAKE SALADS FOR DELIVERIES,
PRE-MAKE SOME SANDWICHES,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE BUSY AND DRIVERS ARE GOING IN AND OUT,
THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH TIME TO JUST DO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
Narrator: IT'S HARD WORK,
BUT TARIQ IS DEDICATED AND RELIABLE.
HE WAS ALWAYS THE GUY WHO WANTED TO WORK AND WANTED TO BE THERE.
HE DIDN'T WAIT FOR THINGS TO GET DONE.
HE HAD A SENSE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY,
AND, OF COURSE,
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WERE THE BEST SHIFTS TO HAVE
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY.
Narrator: AS THE DINNER RUSH BEGINS AT DiMILLE'S,
TARIQ HEADS OUT FOR HIS FIRST DELIVERY
IN WHAT WILL BE A BUSY WEEKEND EVENING.
AND, WHEN HE'S DONE,
HE GETS TO GO HOME TO A HAPPY REUNION WITH JENNIFER.
ACROSS TOWN,
TONY HICKS IS IN FOR A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF NIGHT.
HE HASN'T BEEN DOING WELL IN SCHOOL LATELY,
AND, TODAY, HE RECEIVES A PINK SLIP FOR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES,
MISSED ASSIGNMENTS,
AND PROBLEM BEHAVIOR OVER THE PAST WEEK.
HIS GRANDFATHER PLES HAS BEEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM IN LINE.
HE EXPECTED TONY TO GO TO SCHOOL, NUMBER ONE,
AND THEN TRY TO DO HIS BEST IN SCHOOL,
AND TONY WASN'T DOING THAT.
Felix: HE WAS REQUIRED, EVERY DAY,
TO BRING A NOTE BACK FROM HIS CLASSES
SO I COULD KEEP IN COMMUNICATION WITH HIS TEACHERS.
Narrator: BUT PLES' EFFORTS DON'T SEEM TO BE WORKING.
HI, DADDY.
TONY.
[ SIGHS ]
I HAVE A SLIP FOR YOU.
Felix: THAT WAS HICKS IN GENERAL, WHEN HE CAME IN.
I MEAN, HE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH TO SAY.
HE SAID, "HERE'S THE SLIP," AND HE THREW IT ON THE TABLE.
Callahan: NOW, PLES, OF COURSE, WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS,
AND TONY'S UPSET BECAUSE HE HAS TO FACE THE MUSIC.
Narrator: AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF TENSION,
PLES AND TONY SETTLE DOWN FOR THE EVENING.
BUT SOMETHING IS OFF.
Felix: I'M NOTICING THAT HE'S JUST NOT INTO THE MEAL,
NOT VERY HUNGRY,
AND NOT SPEAKING, NOT SAYING VERY MUCH.
WHEN I FINISHED, I LOOKED AT THE SLIP,
AND I SAID, "FINISH UP YOUR MEAL,
AND MEET ME IN YOUR ROOM IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR...."
ALL RIGHT.
EXCUSE ME?
OKAY.
"...AND WE'LL SIT DOWN AND CHAT ABOUT THIS,
AND I'LL BRING DESSERT."
[ SIGHS ]
Narrator: PLES IS HOPING FOR A PRODUCTIVE MAN-TO-MAN TALK.
WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW
IS THAT TONY HAS ALREADY SLIPPED,
PERMANENTLY, BEYOND HIS CONTROL.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
UP NEXT...
IT'S LIKE A JAIL!
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
...A CRUCIAL COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
AS TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
I COULD LOOK IN HIS EYES, THEN,
AND TELL THAT HE WAS FILLED WITH ANGER.
I DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT ANGER.
Narrator: 8th-GRADER TONY HICKS IS IN TROUBLE AGAIN AT SCHOOL.
HE LIVES WITH HIS GRANDFATHER PLES,
WHO IS STRUGGLING TO KEEP HIS GRANDSON
FROM MAKING BAD CHOICES.
I WAS SEEING A LOT OF ANGER, A LOT OF DISREGARD,
A LOT OF, "I DON'T CARE."
HI, DADDY.
AND THAT'S ALWAYS DANGEROUS,
YOU KNOW, FOR ANYBODY, ESPECIALLY KIDS.
Narrator: BUT THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET MUCH WORSE FOR TONY
AND FOR HARD-WORKING COLLEGE STUDENT TARIQ KHAMISA.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
IT'S FRIDAY, JANUARY 20th,
AND, FOR NOW,
TARIQ IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TYPICAL FRIDAY NIGHT,
WORKING AS A PIZZA DELIVERYMAN.
HE COULD GET IN HIS CAR, WHICH HE LOVED,
AND HE COULD DRIVE, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING HE LOVED,
AND HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE BEHIND A DESK.
Narrator: TARIQ IS HAPPY NOW,
BUT IT'S TAKEN TIME
FOR HIM TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH HIS LIFE CHOICES,
PARTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO DIFFERENT FROM HIS FATHER'S.
AN IMMIGRANT FROM AFRICA,
AZIM KHAMISA SETTLED HIS FAMILY IN AMERICA
AND FOUND SUCCESS AS AN INVESTMENT BANKER.
AND WHILE TARIQ AND AZIM SHARE HIGH IDEALS,
THE CAREER PATHS THEY'VE CHOSEN COULDN'T BE FARTHER APART.
MY BROTHER'S PASSION WAS NOT FOR BUSINESS.
HE WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT PEOPLE AND TAKE PICTURES,
AND MY DAD WAS VERY MUCH THE BUSINESSMAN --
REALLY WANTED TARIQ TO KIND OF FOLLOW IN THOSE FOOTSTEPS
AND GO TO BUSINESS SCHOOL.
IT'S NOT ME. IT'S NOT WHAT I CAN DO.
WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND?
Azim: IF HE HAD CHOSEN TO FOLLOW MY FOOTSTEPS IN BUSINESS,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE BIT OF A LIFT.
THAT WAS NOT WHO HE WAS.
Narrator: TARIQ'S PARENTS DIVORCED
WHEN HE WAS JUST SEVEN YEARS OLD,
AND AZIM MOVED OUT OF THE FAMILY HOME IN SEATTLE
DOWN TO SAN DIEGO.
Alael: WE DIDN'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM.
WE WERE IN SEPARATE CITIES.
AND HE WOULD COME VISIT US,
BUT IT WAS NEVER THROWING A BALL IN THE BACKYARD
OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS YOU SEE SOME FATHERS DO,
ESPECIALLY WITH SONS.
FOR TARIQ, IT WAS VERY TOUGH.
HE HAD A LOT OF ROUGH TIMES WITH MY DAD
'CAUSE HE FELT THAT MY DAD WAS A FATHER,
BUT HE COULD NEVER CALL HIM A DAD.
Narrator: SO, WHEN IT CAME TO CHOOSING A COLLEGE,
IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT TARIQ
PICKED SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.
Azim: I THINK HE CAME HERE TO BE CLOSER TO ME,
AND I THINK THAT HE WANTED TO GET TO KNOW ME BETTER.
AS HE SAID, "I WANT TO KNOW THE REAL PERSON IN YOU,
NOT THE BUSINESS PERSON IN YOU."
PHOTOJOURNALISM.
Narrator: FOR TONY HICKS,
GROWING UP WITHOUT A FATHER WAS JUST ONE OF HIS MANY STRUGGLES.
IT SEEMED AS IF EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG WITH A KID
WENT WRONG WITH TONY.
HIS FATHER WAS CONVICTED OF A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING
AND SENT TO PRISON.
Deddeh: HIS MOM WAS 15 OR 16 WHEN HE WAS BORN.
SHE LED A VERY TRANSIENT LIFESTYLE
AND SORT OF BOUNCED AROUND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE.
HE WOULD END UP IN HOUSES WITH A LOT OF GANG MEMBERS,
A LOT OF DRUG ADDICTS.
Felix: AND THE STRAW THAT FINALLY KIND OF BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK
IS WHEN TONY'S FAVORITE 16-YEAR-OLD COUSIN
WAS KILLED IN A HALE OF AUTOMATIC-WEAPON FIRE
AT THE HANDS OF A RIVAL GANG MEMBER.
TONY WITNESSED THE COUNTY CORONER
REMOVING THESE CHILDREN'S REMAINS,
AND THAT WAS VERY TRAUMATIZING AND ANGER-MAKING FOR TONY.
IT FORCED US TO CONSIDER TONY'S COMING TO LIVE WITH ME.
Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT EASY FOR PLES
TO UNDO THE DAMAGE OF THOSE EARLY EXPERIENCES.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
AT 8:30 p.m. ON JANUARY 20th,
AFTER A TENSE DINNER TOGETHER, PLES AND TONY SIT DOWN
TO TALK ABOUT TONY'S MOST RECENT PROBLEM AT SCHOOL.
PLES IS FRUSTRATED THAT TONY'S PRIORITIES
ARE NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE.
Felix: I'M NOT SURE THESE TYPE OF FRIENDS
THAT YOU'RE RUNNING AROUND WITH --
MY FRIENDS ARE FINE.
YOU HAVE CHOICES,
AND THOSE CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUEN--
CHOICES?! I HAVE NO CHOICES!
THEIR CONVERSATION QUICKLY TURNS INTO A SHOUTING MATCH.
TONY TRIED TO CONVINCE ME
THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO HANG OUT AT THE PARK AFTER DARK.
HE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS FRIENDS.
IT'S LIKE A JAIL HERE! A JAIL!
A JAIL?!
Narrator: BUT THE MORE TIME TONY SPENDS WITH HIS FRIENDS,
THE MORE DEFIANT HE BECOMES.
PLES KNOWS THESE KIDS ARE TROUBLE.
Felix: I LOOKED HIM SQUARE IN THE EYE,
AND I SAID, "LOOK, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
"SOMETIME SOON SOMEBODY'S GONNA HAND YOU A LOADED HANDGUN
"AND TELL YOU TO SHOOT SOMEBODY.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO THEN?"
HE SAID, "NO, DADDY. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.
I WOULD NEVER DO THAT."
YOU KNOW THAT.
I COULD LOOK IN HIS EYES, THEN,
AND TELL THAT HE WAS FILLED WITH ANGER.
I DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT ANGER.
I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
Narrator: PLES' INSTINCTS ABOUT
HIS GRANDSON'S FRIENDS ARE DEAD-ON,
BUT WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW IS THAT THE BOYS
ARE PART OF A LOCAL GANG CALLED "THE BLACK MOB,"
AND TONY IS A MEMBER.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
UP NEXT, TONY MUST FOLLOW A NEW SET OF RULES.
IF YOU BRING A GUN TO THE GANG,
THEN YOU GET A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT.
POWER.
Narrator: 8th-GRADER TONY HICKS
HAS HAD ENOUGH OF HIS GRANDFATHER PLES' RULES.
FOR HIM, SCHOOL DOESN'T MATTER.
WHAT HE CARES ABOUT ARE HIS FRIENDS
AND HIS INCREASINGLY ACTIVE LIFE ON THE STREETS.
Felix: I COULD SEE IT IN HIS FACE
THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS ON THE LINE.
I RECOGNIZED...
THAT TONY WAS POTENTIALLY PUTTING HIMSELF IN JEOPARDY.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
GOOD MORNING, TONY.
Narrator: IT'S EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 21st,
AND THE AIR BETWEEN PLES AND TONY
IS STILL THICK FROM THEIR ARGUMENT THE NIGHT BEFORE.
Felix: I WANT YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.
THIS TIME, PLES DECIDES TO TAKE A HARDER LINE THAN USUAL
ON TONY'S SCHOOL DELINQUENCY.
THESE ARE YOUR CONSEQUENCES.
FINISH WHAT YOU NEED TO FINISH.
BEFORE PLES LEFT THE HOUSE,
HE LEFT A LIST OF CHORES FOR TONY TO DO,
AND THIS LIST, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT SCHOOL,
WAS LONGER THAN THE LIST
THAT TONY HAD BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO DOING.
BUT I WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET MY FRIENDS AT THE PARK.
Felix: AND I SAID, "LOOK --
"DO YOUR CHORES, FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK,
"AND, ONCE YOU'RE ALL DONE, YOU CAN GO OUT TO THE PARK AND PLAY.
YOU'RE FREE ALL DAY."
Callahan: THIS WAS A SATURDAY,
AND TONY HAD EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO
SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS HE WANTED WITH HIS FRIENDS,
SO HE BRISTLED AT THIS, AND HE FELT, "THIS IS TOO MUCH.
HE'S CRACKING DOWN ON ME TOO HARD."
Narrator: WHEN PLES LEAVES FOR THE DAY TO DO ERRANDS,
TONY DECIDES TO TAKE DRASTIC ACTION.
Callahan: HE WROTE A NOTE TO HIS GRANDFATHER
TELLING HIM HE WAS RUNNING AWAY.
HERE'S A KID THAT LOVED HIS GRANDFATHER
AND RECOGNIZED WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO FOR HIM,
BUT, "THAT'S NOT THE LIFE FOR ME."
I WAS IMPOSING A STANDARD ON THIS KID
THAT HE COULD NOT MEET --
HE COULD NOT EVEN IMAGINE MEETING.
BUT HE NEEDED MORE FROM ME AT THAT POINT,
AND I WASN'T AVAILABLE TO GIVE IT TO HIM.
Narrator: FOR COLLEGE STUDENT TARIQ KHAMISA,
ON THE OTHER HAND,
HOMELIFE WITH HIS FIANCéE, JENNIFER, IS PEACEFUL AND HAPPY,
AND HIS WORK ETHIC IS STRONGER THAN EVER.
THIS SATURDAY IS MUCH THE SAME AS ANY OTHER.
HE USUALLY WORKED IN THE EVENINGS,
AND HE PROBABLY HAD SOME SCHOOLWORK PRIOR TO THAT.
Narrator: WHEN EVENING ROLLS AROUND,
HE'LL HEAD TO DiMILLE'S RESTAURANT
FOR A BUSY WEEKEND NIGHT OF DELIVERIES.
HE JUST WOULD COME, GET IT DONE, MAKE SOME MONEY, AND GO HOME.
IT WAS EASY FOR HIM.
Narrator: TONIGHT, TARIQ IS WORKING THE EARLY SHIFT.
HE PLANS TO BE FINISHED AND BACK HOME WITH JENNIFER BY 10:00.
OW!
SORRY! STUPID PIZZA HAT.
HE HAS NO IDEA THAT A FEW MILES AWAY,
EVENTS ARE IN MOTION THAT WILL CHANGE THE COURSE OF HIS NIGHT
AND HIS LIFE.
AFTER RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE,
TONY HICKS MEETS UP WITH HIS FRIENDS, HAKIM AND SOLOMON.
ALL ARE MEMBERS OF THE BLACK MOB GANG.
Deddeh: TONY STARTED CLAIMING BLACK MOB
WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 13 YEARS OLD.
IT'S A SURROGATE FAMILY.
IT'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WILL HAVE HIS BACK ON THE STREET
AND PROTECT HIM FROM OTHER GANGS
AND IS A PLACE WHERE HE FEELS WANTED,
AND HE DOESN'T HAVE TO OBEY
ANYBODY ELSE'S RULES EXCEPT THEIRS.
Narrator: HEADQUARTERS FOR THE GANG
IS AN APARTMENT ON ALABAMA STREET,
SO THAT'S WHERE TONY CRASHES.
YO, WHAT'S UP, MAN?
IT WAS AN APARTMENT THAT BLACK MOB HAD THE RUN OF
WITH NO ADULT SUPERVISION.
I HAD TO DO IT, MAN.
AND IT WAS A PLACE WHERE THEY HAD PARTIES,
A PLACE WHERE THEY DID DRUGS,
AND A PLACE WHERE THEY
HAD YOUNG GIRLS OVER TO HAVE SEX WITH THEM.
Narrator: TO THE GANG, TONY IS KNOWN AS "BONE."
HIS FRIEND HAKIM IS "HOOK," AND SOLOMON IS KNOWN AS "SOLO."
BOTH BOYS ARE TONY'S 8th-GRADE CLASSMATES.
MOST OF THE BLACK MOB GANG MEMBERS WERE 14, 15, 16.
Narrator: BUT THE SVENGALI LEADER OF THE BLACK MOB GANG
IS 18-YEAR-OLD ANTOINE PITTMAN.
ALIAS "Q-TIP," PITTMAN IS BOTH FEARED AND RESPECTED
BY THE YOUNG KIDS UNDER HIS COMMAND.
Callahan: ANTOINE PITTMAN WAS STRAIGHT OUT OF CENTRAL CASTING FOR A GANG LEADER.
HE WAS VIOLENT,
HE HAD NO RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OR FEELINGS OF OTHERS,
HE REVELED IN RECRUITING
TROUBLED KIDS SUCH AS TONY HICKS --
RUNAWAYS, DRUG ADDICTS,
KIDS WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS THAT HE COULD DOMINATE.
WELCOME TO THE MOB, BABY.
YEAH.
Narrator: THE BLACK MOB ISN'T
ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT GANGS IN SAN DIEGO.
THEY WERE SORT OF A NOTCH ABOVE PETTY STREET CRIMINALS
BUT MANY NOTCHES BELOW A VIOLENT, DANGEROUS STREET GANG.
THEY'D DO PURSE SNATCHES.
THEY WOULD GO INTO STORES AND STEAL STUFF, BREAK INTO HOUSES.
Narrator: BUT, RECENTLY,
PITTMAN HAD RAISED THE GANG'S CRIMINAL REPERTOIRE
TO A NEW LEVEL OF VIOLENCE.
A FEW WEEKS EARLIER,
IN THE EARLY-MORNING HOURS OF CHRISTMAS EVE, 1994,
ANTOINE AND ONE OF HIS YOUNG GANG MEMBERS
WENT TO A LOCAL LIQUOR STORE.
Deddeh: AND THEY MAKE A PURCHASE OF SOME CHIPS AND SOME SODA.
IT'S LATE. IT'S COLD.
THEY WALK OUT OF THE LIQUOR STORE,
WALK MAYBE 25 YARDS DOWN A PARKING LOT
THAT LEADS TO AN ALLEY BEHIND THE LIQUOR STORE,
AND AS THEY WALK THROUGH THIS AREA,
THEY SEE LONNIE SMITHWICK, WHO IS A HOMELESS MAN.
HE SAYS SOMETHING LIKE, "DO YOU HAVE ANY SPARE CHANGE?"
AND ANTOINE AND HE EXCHANGE WORDS.
WHY DON'T YOU GET A JOB?
Narrator: WITHIN SECONDS,
THE ENCOUNTER ESCALATES UNTIL PITTMAN HAS HAD ENOUGH.
HE HAD A GUN, AND, APPARENTLY,
HE HAD BEEN ITCHING TO USE THIS GUN.
Narrator: FOR REASONS STILL UNCLEAR,
PITTMAN SEIZES THIS MOMENT TO ACT ON THAT VIOLENT IMPULSE.
ANTOINE WALKS UP TO LONNIE SMITHWICK,
PUTS A GUN TO HIS HEAD, SHOOTS HIM ONE TIME,
AND KILLS HIM.
HIS HANDS WERE STILL IN HIS POCKETS AS ANTOINE SHOT HIM.
Deddeh: HE'S BRUTALLY KILLED SOMEBODY
FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.
IT GAVE HIM THIS INCREDIBLE POWER
OVER ALL OF THESE YOUNG GUYS
'CAUSE NOW THEY KNEW THAT HE WAS A KILLER.
Narrator: LESS THAN A MONTH LATER,
IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON OF SATURDAY, JANUARY 21st,
THE BLACK MOB IS HANGING OUT AT THE APARTMENT,
DRINKING AND GETTING HIGH.
WITH A LEADER LIKE PITTMAN,
IT'S NO SURPRISE
THE YOUNG MEN HAVE GUNS AND MONEY ON THEIR MINDS.
AND STILL ANGRY WITH HIS GRANDFATHER,
TONY HAS AN IDEA HOW TO GET BOTH.
MY DADDY, HE'S OUT. HE'S AT WORK.
BUT WE GOTTA GO FAST.
TONY KNEW THAT HIS GRANDFATHER HAD A SHOTGUN,
AND, SO, AFTER HE HAD RUN AWAY,
HE DECIDED TO TAKE HIS FRIENDS BACK AND STEAL A SHOTGUN
BECAUSE THEY COULD SELL THAT ON THE STREET, MAKE SOME MONEY.
HE GOES BACK WITH SOLOMON SIMPSON AND HAKIM DUNN.
TONY AND HOOK STOOD WATCH OUTSIDE...
LOOK OUT. I GOT THIS.
...AND SOLO WENT INTO THE HOUSE.
Deddeh: SOLOMON SIMPSON ACTUALLY STEALS THE SHOTGUN...
COME ON. LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO!
...AND THEY TAKE IT BACK TO ALABAMA STREET.
Narrator: TONY'S MISSION IS A SUCCESS,
BUT HIS PLAN TO SELL THE GUN IS QUICKLY SHOT DOWN.
WE GONNA KEEP IT, FAT BOY.
[ GUN CLICKS ]
Deddeh: AND ANTOINE DECIDED THAT,
"NO, WE NEED TO KEEP IT FOR THE GANG."
[ GUN *** ]
Narrator: TONY NEEDS MONEY NOW THAT HE'S RUN AWAY,
BUT CONTRADICTING PITTMAN IS NOT AN OPTION.
TONY WAS UPSET ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE WASN'T BENEFITING,
FINANCIALLY, FROM STEALING HIS GRANDFATHER'S GUN,
BUT, CONVERSELY, IF YOU BRING A GUN TO THE GANG,
THEN YOU GET A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT.
HEY, GOOD JOB, YO.
Narrator: THREE MILES AWAY, AT 5:00 p.m.,
TARIQ KHAMISA ARRIVES AT WORK FOR HIS SHIFT.
Giacaione: THE 21st WAS JUST A NORMAL NIGHT AT DiMILLE'S.
HE STARTED HIS SIDE WORK
THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE PRIOR TO DELIVERING.
HE PROBABLY STARTED DELIVERING AT AROUND 5:30, 6:00.
Narrator: BUT AS TARIQ BEGINS HIS WORKDAY,
TONY'S GRANDFATHER PLES
RETURNS HOME FROM RUNNING ERRANDS
TO FIND HIS EVERYDAY LIFE TRANSFORMED.
Felix: THE PLACE IS DARK -- NO LIGHTS ON.
TONY?
NOBODY HOME.
AND I GO BACK TO MY BEDROOM,
AND I FIND THIS NOTE FROM TONY.
IT SAYS, "DADDY, I HAVE RUN AWAY.
LOVE, TONY."
[ SIGHS ]
AND THE FIRST THING I DID WAS LOOK IN THE CLOSET
WHERE I KEPT A SHOTGUN,
AND THE SHOTGUN WAS GONE.
Narrator: FOR PLES, THIS IS A NIGHTMARE COME TRUE.
Felix: I'M THINKING THIS KID WENT SOMEWHERE
WHERE HE CAN HOUSE THIS SHOTGUN.
HE'S OUT THERE IN THE STREETS, AND HE'S GONE.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
Narrator: NEXT, TONY'S NEWFOUND FREEDOM
COMES AT A STEEP PRICE.
Man: OH, MAN.
ANTOINE TELLS TONY,
"NOW IS YOUR TIME TO SHOW US YOU'RE DOWN."
Narrator: COLLEGE STUDENT TARIQ KHAMISA
IS WORKING HIS REGULAR SATURDAY-NIGHT SHIFT
AT DiMILLE'S RESTAURANT.
HE HAS NO IDEA THAT ACROSS TOWN,
14-YEAR-OLD TONY HICKS
HAS SPENT THE DAY TAKING TEENAGE REBELLION TO CRIMINAL EXTREMES.
HE'S STOLEN HIS GRANDFATHER'S SHOTGUN AND RUN AWAY FROM HOME
TO BE WITH HIS FRIENDS
IN A STREET GANG CALLED THE BLACK MOB.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
NOW, IN LESS THAN 90 MINUTES,
TONY AND TARIQ WILL CROSS PATHS,
AND THE 14-YEAR-OLD AND HIS FRIENDS
HAVE ALREADY BEEN PARTYING FOR HOURS.
Callahan: THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO.
THEY'RE HANGING AROUND, LISTENING TO MUSIC,
SMOKING MARIJUANA, DRINKING.
AND, EVENTUALLY, SOMEBODY SAYS, "I'M HUNGRY."
LET'S GET SOMETHING TO EAT OR SOMETHING.
HOW ABOUT SOME PIZZA?
Callahan: WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS THIS PLOT IS HATCHED.
THEY DECIDED TO "JACK" A PIZZA MAN.
A JACK IS A ROBBERY, BASICALLY.
ORDER A PIZZA, AMBUSH THE PIZZA DELIVERYMAN,
AND STEAL THE PIZZAS.
Narrator: EVERYONE FALLS INTO LINE
AND GETS BEHIND THE IDEA.
ONE OF THE GIRLS VOLUNTEERED TO CALL.
I KNOW THIS ONE PLACE...
CHERISE WAS PICKED BECAUSE SHE HAD SOMEWHAT OF A MATURE VOICE.
HEY, UM...DO YOU GUYS DELIVER?
Narrator: CHERISE ORDERS THE PIZZAS
DELIVERED TO A NEARBY APARTMENT COMPLEX ON LOUISIANA STREET,
BUT SHE GIVES AN APARTMENT NUMBER THAT DOESN'T EXIST --
APARTMENT D.
SO, THEY CALLED ONE PIZZA PLACE.
IT WAS ABOUT 9:00,
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT
THAT PLACE DOESN'T DELIVER AFTER 9:00.
Narrator: IF THIS FIRST RESTAURANT HAD TAKE THE ORDER,
THIS FATEFUL NIGHT MIGHT HAVE TURNED OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY.
DETERMINED TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL DELIVER,
CHERISE FINDS ANOTHER NUMBER AND DIALS.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
Woman: THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE PIZZA SHOP.
SHORTLY AFTER 9:00, THE PHONE RINGS AT DiMILLE'S.
Giacaione: ONE OF THE GIRLS PUT THE TICKET IN,
THE KITCHEN PUT TOGETHER THE ORDER,
AND TARIQ WAS THE PERSON WHO DECIDED TO TAKE IT.
Narrator: IT'S TARIQ'S LAST DELIVERY OF THE NIGHT.
AT THE APARTMENT ON ALABAMA STREET,
THE GANG NOW HAS A PLAN.
THEN, PITTMAN HAS AN IDEA.
Man: OH, MAN.
HE PULLS OUT A STOLEN 9mm GUN
AND SUGGESTS THEY TAKE IT ALONG TO MEET THE PIZZA MAN.
THERE'S ONE THING, THOUGH.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO CARRY THE GUN BECAUSE HE WAS 18,
AND HE WAS AFRAID HE WOULD GET IN MORE TROUBLE
IF HE GOT ARRESTED WITH IT.
DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WERE VYING TO TAKE IT,
AND THEN TONY VOLUNTEERED AND SAID, "I WANT TO CARRY THE GUN."
HAVE YOU EVER HANDLED ONE OF THESE?
ANTOINE HANDS TONY THE LOADED 9mm HANDGUN
AND TELLS TONY, "NOW IS YOUR TIME TO SHOW US YOU'RE DOWN."
Callahan: THIS, AGAIN,
IS TYPICAL BEHAVIOR BY A GANG LEADER
IN TRYING TO PUT ONE OF HIS UNDERLINGS
IN THE POSITION OF MOST DANGER AND THE MOST CULPABILITY.
Narrator: THE PLAN IS TO USE THE GUN ONLY AS A THREAT,
NOT AS A WEAPON.
YOU SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THAT?
YEAH, I KNOW.
DRUNK, HIGH, AND ARMED, THE GROUP IS READY FOR ACTION.
K.O.!
AT DiMILLE'S,
TARIQ IS FINISHED PREPARING HIS LAST ORDER OF THE NIGHT.
ON HIS WAY OUT,
HE, TOO, GRABS SOMETHING EXTRA --
A SURPRISE FOR JENNIFER.
HE DECIDED THAT HE WOULD STOP BY HOME FIRST
AND BRING JENNIFER A SODA.
"TELL HER I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
"YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THIS ONE DELIVERY TO MAKE,
AND THEN I'LL BE HOME."
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
[ GASPS ] BABE!
HEY!
Tariq: I GOT THIS FOR YOU.
FOR ME?
LOVE YOU.
[ SMOOCH ]
BYE.
BYE.
HE ALWAYS WAS THE ONE WHO WOULD GO HOME TO HIS FIANCéE.
Narrator: WHILE JENNIFER WAITS FOR HIS RETURN,
TARIQ HEADS TO HIS LAST DELIVERY LOCATION.
BUT WHEN HE LOOKS FOR APARTMENT D,
IT'S NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
THERE'S NO APARTMENT D, THERE'S NO APARTMENT A, B, OR C.
AND, SO, HE'S WALKING AROUND LOOKING FOR IT,
BECOMING, I'M SURE, IRRITATED.
HI. YOU DIDN'T HAPPEN TO ORDER A PIZZA, DID YOU?
NO, I DIDN'T ORDER A PIZZA.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHERE APARTMENT D IS?
OF COURSE, NOBODY HAD ORDERED THE PIZZAS.
Narrator: AS TARIQ SEARCHES THE COMPLEX,
HE DOESN'T NOTICE THAT HE HAS AN AUDIENCE.
THE GANG MEMBERS ARE WATCHING THIS,
AND THEY FIND THIS HUMOROUS.
LOOK AT HIM.
Narrator: FINALLY, TARIQ DECIDES TO ABORT HIS MISSION.
TONY STANDS NEXT TO PITTMAN, HOLDING THE GUN...
GET THAT PIECE READY, BRO.
...INCREASINGLY AWARE OF ITS WEIGHT.
THE BLACK MOB IS POISED TO MAKE THEIR SURPRISE ATTACK.
WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS THAT THEIR UNSUSPECTING TARGET
WILL SURPRISE THEM RIGHT BACK.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
COMING UP NEXT, A FACE-OFF TURNS DEADLY.
THIS ISN'T THE WAY THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN MOVIES.
THIS ISN'T THE WAY THINGS HAPPEN ON TELEVISION.
Narrator: TARIQ KHAMISA IS STUMPED AND FRUSTRATED.
IT'S HIS LAST PIZZA DELIVERY OF THE NIGHT,
AND HE CAN'T FIND THE ADDRESS WRITTEN ON THE ORDER.
AFTER SEARCHING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, HE GIVES UP.
HE HAS NO IDEA THAT THE ADDRESS IS BOGUS.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
AND HE'S WALKED RIGHT INTO A TRAP.
TARIQ IS HEADING BACK TO PUT THOSE PIZZAS AWAY.
AND THEN THE BLACK MOB DESCENDS ON HIM.
IT'S TIME. LET'S GO.
Narrator: WITH A 9mm IN HIS HAND,
TONY HICKS LEADS THE PACK, READY TO PROVE HIMSELF.
HEY, HOMEY. BRAKE YOURSELF.
TONY PULLS OUT THE GUN AND SAYS, "BRAKE YOURSELF,"
WHICH MEANS, "GIVE ME WHAT YOU HAVE."
Narrator: THE GANG'S PLAN
IS TO STEAL THE PIZZA AND ANY SPARE CASH.
WHAT?!
BUT NONE OF THEM
COULD HAVE PREDICTED TARIQ'S RESPONSE.
NO.
THEY ASKED HIM FOR THE PIZZAS, AND HE SAID NO.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN TARIQ'S MIND AT THAT TIME.
I RELIVE THAT MOMENT, YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES...AS A FATHER.
Callahan: HE MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A REAL GUN.
HE MAY HAVE THOUGHT,
"THERE'S THIS PUNK KID POINTING A GUN AT ME."
Alael: MAYBE HE WAS SCARED.
MAYBE AT THAT MOMENT, HE JUST THOUGHT,
"I NEED TO JUST GET OUT OF HERE."
I WANT THAT PIZZA, HOMEY!
Azim: PLUS, TARIQ ALWAYS HAD VERY STRONG VALUES,
AND THAT COULD HAVE DRIVEN HIM TO SAY, YOU KNOW,
"IF YOU NEED THE PIZZAS, YOU PAY FOR THEM.
I'M NOT GONNA HAND THEM OVER."
HEY, YO! WHAT'S HE DOING, MAN?!
BUT YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE "WHAT IF" QUESTIONS,
AND THERE REALLY ARE NO ANSWERS.
TARIQ REFUSED.
HE GOT INTO THE CAR.
AND THIS SURPRISED TONY.
HERE HE IS WITH A GUN,
AND HERE'S A PIZZA DELIVERYMAN
JUST NOT ONLY STANDING UP TO HIM, BUT BASICALLY IGNORING HIM.
THIS ISN'T THE WAY THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN MOVIES.
THIS ISN'T THE WAY THINGS HAPPEN ON TELEVISION.
Narrator: TARIQ'S DEFIANCE
ENRAGES GANG LEADER ANTOINE PITTMAN.
ANTOINE FEELS LIKE, "OKAY, THIS GUY'S FRONTING ME OFF
IN FRONT OF MY LITTLE HOMIES, SO I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN."
ANTOINE'S STANDING BEHIND TONY,
AND HE SHOUTS AT TONY, "BUST HIM, BONES!"
Azim: TARIQ DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO HIM.
HE WAS JUST A PIZZA DELIVERY BOY.
HE WAS JUST A NOBODY.
Narrator: HIS MIND REELING, TONY MAKES A SNAP DECISION.
BUST HIM, BONE!
THE BULLET ENTERED MY SON'S BODY UNDER THE LEFT SHOULDER BLADE
AND TRAVELLED ACROSS THE UPPER PART OF HIS CHEST.
Felix: TONY'S STANDING THERE, AND HE'S REALLY TRANSFIXED.
HE CAN'T MOVE.
TONY TELLS ME, "I HEAR -- I HEAR SOMEBODY SCREAMING,
'RUN! RUN! DON'T DROP THE GUN!'"
AND IT SNAPS HIM OUT OF THIS STATE THAT HE WAS IN,
AND HE RUNS...
LEAVING TARIQ TO DIE.
Azim: AND TARIQ IS SLUMPED IN HIS DRIVER SEAT,
DROWNING IN HIS OWN BLOOD, OVER A LOUSY PIZZA --
I THINK THE ORDER WAS ABOUT 27-SOME DOLLARS --
AT THE AGE OF 20.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
Narrator: TONY AND THE GANG
RETURN TO HOME BASE ON ALABAMA STREET.
Girl: HEY, WHERE'S OUR PIZZA AT?
SHUT UP.
THEY'RE ALL QUIET.
THEY'RE ALL LOOKING SCARED,
AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE PIZZA.
SO, THE GIRLS ASK, "WELL, WHERE'S THE PIZZA?
WHAT HAPPENED?"
AND ANTOINE SAYS, "AH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
NOTHING. SHUT UP."
SO, WHEN ANTOINE SAYS THAT, EVERYBODY KNOWS,
"WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT THIS."
WE ALL GOOD.
YEAH.
WE ALL GOOD, DOG, RIGHT?
YEAH.
WE'RE ALL GOOD.
PITTMAN TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW,
"DON'T WORRY. THEY'LL NEVER CATCH US,"
AND "THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD DO IS IF SOMEBODY SQUEALED,
AND NOBODY'S GONNA SQUEAL. THIS IS A GANG."
Narrator: AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE PARTY BREAKS UP.
BUT FOR TONY HICKS, THERE'S NO GOING HOME.
AND STILL UNAWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED,
PLES' CONCERN FOR HIS RUNAWAY GRANDSON
CONTINUES TO MOUNT THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.
Felix: I JUST KIND OF SIT THROUGH THE EVENING IN TENSION,
NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO DO BUT FEELING KIND OF HELPLESS.
[ BUTTON CLICKS ]
Narrator: AT 11:00 p.m., HE TURNS ON THE TELEVISION.
Reporter: THE KILLING OF A PIZZA DELIVERYMAN...
THERE WAS A NEWS REPORT FROM THE LOCAL NEWS
ABOUT A PIZZA DELIVERYMAN BEING SHOT AND KILLED IN NORTH PARK.
Narrator: PLES LOOKS ON IN HORROR.
UNSURE WHY, HE FEELS CONNECTED TO THE STORY.
I HAD THIS VERY BAD FEELING COME OVER ME.
IT WAS VERY, VERY DARK, FOREBODING,
AND I REALLY COULDN'T SHAKE IT.
Narrator: JUST DOWN THE STREET,
CHERISE PAIN IS WATCHING THE SAME NEWS REPORT.
HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK AND DIED IN HIS CAR.
IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT FOR HER TO REALIZE
THAT SHE HAS HAD A PART IN A RUTHLESS ***.
Deddeh: IN MY EXPERIENCE,
THE GIRLS HAVE MORE CONSCIENCE THAN THE BOYS DO,
AND THE CODE OF SILENCE
IS NOT AS STRONG WITH THE GIRLS AS IT IS WITH THE BOYS.
Narrator: FOR THE SECOND TIME TONIGHT,
CHERISE DECIDES TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.
SHE'S GONNA CALL THIS HOT LINE, THIS ANONYMOUS HOT LINE,
AND TELL THEM THAT SHE KNOWS WHO DID THE KILLING.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: TWO DAYS LATER,
TONY AND HIS FRIENDS ARE ARRESTED.
POLICE NOTIFY THE FAMILIES.
FOR PLES, HIS WORST FEARS FOR HIS GRANDSON ARE CONFIRMED.
THERE ISN'T ANY FEELING BUT DEEP SORROW
FROM JUST THE KNOWLEDGE...
THAT MY GRANDSON, AT 14, MURDERED AN INNOCENT PERSON.
I FELT GUILT --
FELT A LOT OF GUILT BECAUSE I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR TONY.
HE'S MY GRANDSON.
I WAS A CAREGIVER, AND HE LIVED WITH ME.
Narrator: POLICE ALSO CONTACT TARIQ KHAMISA'S FAMILY.
AZIM GETS THE NEWS FIRST.
NO, NO, NO.
Azim: I REMEMBER I COULDN'T STAND UP.
I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE TO YOU
HOW EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL THAT WAS.
I EQUATE IT TO A NUCLEAR BOMB GOING OFF IN MY HEART,
AND I BELIEVE I LEFT MY BODY
AND WENT INTO THE LOVING EMBRACE OF GOD.
Narrator: THEN, IN A MOMENT OF EPIPHANY,
AZIM'S PAIN IS TRANSFORMED.
Azim: WHEN THE EXPLOSION SUBSIDED,
I BELIEVE GOD SENT ME BACK INTO MY BODY
WITH THE WISDOM
THAT THERE WERE VICTIMS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE GUN.
TONY IS A VICTIM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
THAT FORCED AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN TO JOIN A GANG,
AND, AT THE AGE OF 14,
HE KILLED MY SON TO PROVE HIMSELF TO THE GANG.
Narrator: AZIM HAS ASTONISHING EMPATHY FOR HIS SON'S KILLER,
BUT TONY MUST FACE THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS,
AND THOSE HAVE JUST BECOME MUCH MORE SERIOUS.
ONLY WEEKS EARLIER,
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PASSED A NEW LAW
ALLOWING JUVENILES AS YOUNG AS 14 YEARS OLD
TO BE TRIED AS ADULTS FOR ***.
SO, TONY PUT HIMSELF IN A POSITION TO BE
THE VERY FIRST KID OF 14 YEARS OLD
IN THE PIPELINE UNDER THAT NEW LAW.
Narrator: WITHIN MONTHS,
TONY IS CONVICTED OF ***
AND SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE.
AT HIS SENTENCING HEARING,
WITH HIS GRANDFATHER AND HIS MOTHER PRESENT,
TONY GETS A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
THE COURT WAS PACKED WITH PEOPLE,
AND HE READ HIS OWN HANDWRITTEN STATEMENT.
HE SAID, "I SHOT AND KILLED TARIQ KHAMISA,
A PERSON I DIDN'T KNOW..."
"...WHO WAS NOT DOING ANY HARM TO ME.
I AM GUILTY."
OVER THE LAST YEAR WHILE I'VE BEEN IN JUVENILE HALL,
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT MY PROBLEMS.
I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE THE TYPE OF LIFE I HAD.
I THINK ABOUT THE WARNING THAT MY GRANDFATHER GAVE ME.
I WONDER WHY I DIDN'T LISTEN AND LEARN.
I WAS TOO MAD AT EVERYONE.
I WAS MAD AT MY MOM, MY DAD, MY GRANDFATHER.
NOW I'M JUST SCARED AND MAD AT MYSELF.
I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE NIGHT I SHOT TARIQ,
ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M ALONE IN MY CELL,
WHEN IT'S DARK AND QUIET.
[ Voice breaking ] I'M SORRY FOR KILLING TARIQ
AND HURTING HIS FAMILY.
I'M SORRY FOR THE PAIN THAT I CAUSED
FOR TARIQ'S FATHER, MR. KHAMISA.
[ SNIFFLES ]
I PRAY TO GOD EVERY DAY
THAT MR. KHAMISA WILL FORGIVE ME FOR WHAT I'VE DONE.
AND FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE, I'LL CONTINUE TO PRAY TO GOD
TO GIVE HIM STRENGTH TO DEAL WITH HIS LOSS.
Azim: THAT NEVER HAPPENS.
WHEN A JUDGE ASKS THE OFFENDER,
"HOW DO YOU PLEAD -- GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?"
MOST EVERY TIME THEY SAY, "NOT GUILTY."
HE DIDN'T SAY THAT.
I THINK HE REALIZED THE IMPACT HE MADE ON NOT ONLY MY FAMILY,
BUT JUST THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF SAN DIEGO.
Felix: THAT WAS THE REAL TONY HICKS.
THAT WAS A KID, YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS A KID I KNEW AND RAISED AND CARED FOR AND LOVED.
YEAH, HE MADE US ALL PROUD THAT DAY.
Narrator: FOR SOME TOUCHED BY THIS TRAGEDY,
HOPE NEVER RETURNS.
IN 2002, TARIQ'S FIANCéE, JENNIFER,
TOOK HER OWN LIFE.
SHE COULDN'T HANDLE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER.
SHE JUST COULDN'T LIVE IN THIS WORLD WITHOUT HIM.
Narrator: BUT FOR AZIM,
TARIQ'S *** INSPIRES A NEW MISSION.
COMMITTED TO KEEPING HIS SON'S MEMORY ALIVE,
HE CREATES AN ORGANIZATION CALLED
"THE TARIQ KHAMISA FOUNDATION."
Azim: WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE THREE MANDATES.
ONE IS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN.
OUR SECOND MANDATE IS TO EMPOWER THE RIGHT CHOICES
SO THEY DON'T END UP IN GANGS AND GUNS AND ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.
AND OUR THIRD MANDATE
IS TO TEACH THE PRINCIPLES OF NON-VIOLENCE.
Narrator: TO HELP ADVANCE HIS CAUSE,
AZIM DOES SOMETHING TOTALLY UNEXPECTED --
HE REACHES OUT TO PLES.
Azim: I TOLD HIM I CAN'T BRING TARIQ BACK FROM THE DEAD,
AND YOU CAN'T GET TONY OUT OF PRISON.
THE ONE THING YOU AND I CAN DO IS TO MAKE SURE
NO OTHER YOUNG PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY
ENDS UP DEAD LIKE TARIQ OR ENDS UP IN PRISON LIKE TONY.
Felix: AND WHEN I HEARD THAT,
I IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTOOD
IT WOULD PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME
TO COMMIT MYSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF THIS MAN, EYE-TO-EYE,
TO BE A SUPPORT TO HE AND HIS FAMILY IN ANY WAY THAT I COULD.
Narrator: THE PATH THESE TWO MEN CHOOSE
SURPRISES AND INSPIRES EVERYONE AROUND THEM.
I COVERED THE COURTS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS,
AND I NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
Narrator: SINCE 1996,
AZIM AND PLES HAVE TRAVELED TOGETHER
TO SCHOOLS ACROSS SAN DIEGO,
TELLING THEIR STORY,
AND TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT NON-VIOLENCE.
THEY'RE TALKING TO KIDS THAT ARE AT RISK,
AND I THINK THAT IF THEY HAVE AN INCREMENTAL IMPACT
ON JUST A FRACTION OF THE KIDS THAT THEY'VE SEEN,
THEN THAT'S HELPFUL.
AND WE'LL BE TOGETHER FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES
BECAUSE TILL THIS MISSION GETS COMPLETED,
YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO THIS WORK.
Felix: THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE WOULD RATHER BE DOING
THAN BE IN FRONT OF KIDS
AS LIVING, BREATHING ADULT ROLE MODELS
BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE INTRODUCED ON STAGE,
THE MODERATOR SAYS TO THE CHILDREN PRESENT,
"THIS MAN'S GRANDSON MURDERED THIS MAN'S SON,
AND HERE THEY ARE TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS."