Law & Order Special Victims Unit s18e20 Episode Script
American Dream
1 In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous.
In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit.
These are their stories.
It's a little crisper tonight.
It's finally feeling like normal weather.
Yeah, that's crazy.
It was 70 in February, remember? [laughs.]
But there's definitely no such thing as global warming.
Yeah, and tell that to the EPA.
Oh, no, wait there is no EPA.
"Samra.
" Isn't that on our list to try? Yeah, Bill and Tony raved about it.
Modern Syrian cuisine.
Apparently, the fried kibbe here - is awesome.
- Yum.
Take another lap around the block? We'll miss the news.
Maybe we're better off.
Come on.
It's a beautiful night.
[dog barking.]
[woman shouting, glass breaking.]
[faint screaming.]
[grunting.]
Help! Help! Help us! Stop! Take the money! [screaming.]
[smacking.]
Where are your Muslim gods now, huh? Come here.
Come here, you towelhead.
Shut up.
[Screaming and crying.]
[girl shouting indistinctly.]
- Easy! - Get off me! [screaming.]
Come on.
Let's get out of here.
- Stop it! - Not yet.
- Huh? - Get up! - [crying.]
No! - Dirty Muslim bitch.
- Leave her leave her alone! - Help, Mom! - Mom! [Crying.]
- Mmm! This is gonna be good! Leave her alone! Let's go, come on.
Right over here.
This isn't worth it, man.
[screaming and crying.]
- Come on! Let's go.
- Leave her alone.
- Let's go.
Let's go.
- No, no! No, no, no! Hey, you wanna have some fun, baby? [crying.]
- Hey, this isn't what we came - Shut up! [slam.]
- [crying.]
- Don't worry, baby.
I'll be gentle.
[Gun clicks.]
[sobbing.]
No.
No.
- [sobbing.]
- No! NYPD coming through.
I came as soon as I could.
How bad is it? It's as bad as it gets.
One DOA Shala Samra.
She's raped, has a fractured skull.
And her older sister, Lela she was raped, but she'll live.
She's on her way to Bellevue - with her mother.
- But the father? Kanann Samra.
He's in critical condition blunt-force trauma to the head, two stab wounds.
He's on his way to Bellevue too.
Lieutenant Benson? Detective Lopez.
Yeah, sure Ray.
How you doing? Been better.
Let me walk you guys through the scene.
According to the mother, three perps forced their way in tied 'em up.
After they did the rapes and the murder, they ran out the front door.
Ten minutes later, the mother escapes.
She flagged down a cop car.
Can she say anything? Not really.
Poor lady's a mess.
They did a number on this girl.
[dark music.]
The cash register, the wall safe both cleaned out.
Techs are still duing for prints, but no matches in the system yet.
Feels like more than a robbery gone bad.
Yeah.
Lieutenant.
[police radio chatter.]
Take a look.
[sighs.]
It's a hate crime.
[dramatic music.]
This is from last night in front of Samra's Restaurant 10:10 p.
m.
Three males in ski masks.
That's it? - Nothing else? - Taru's going through the footage frame by frame.
We're canvassing the neighborhoods, talking to neighbors, looking for video, witnesses - Any forensics at the scene? - Oh, they're still going through it.
This place was a mess.
My God.
This kind of racism and hate.
It's 2017.
It's happening everywhere, Chief.
Well, it shouldn't happen here.
Not in New York City.
We're working this 24/7.
All hands on.
All precincts, all boroughs.
I see Hate Crimes is already involved.
What do you have, Ray? We're talking to all our informants in the streets, prisons, and gangs.
Have you been in touch with the FBI? Just got off the phone with the head of Civil Rights unit.
They want the case I told 'em it was ours.
Unless you're telling me it's not.
No, this is NYPD.
It's double rape, one murder.
We'll call 'em if we need 'em.
So, what do we know about the family? Kanann and Maya Samra.
They immigrated legally from Damascus 25 years ago.
Their daughters, Lela and Shala they were born here in New York.
It's a family-run restaurant.
They've been in business 15 years.
There's no apparent financial issues.
They're like model citizens.
They pay their taxes, there's no legal problems in their past not even a parking ticket.
Anything else? They're practicing Muslims.
They attend a local mosque.
No connection to any radical groups.
It's a perfect American family.
[phone chimes.]
Yeah oh, good news.
Maya and Lela are in stable condition.
- They're willing to talk.
- Okay.
Rollins, you come with me.
Fin and Carisi, go back to the crime scene.
Talk to anyone and everyone: neighbors, shop owners, competitors you know patrons of the restaurant There are hundreds of Muslim restaurants.
They picked Samra.
I wanna know why.
On it, Liv.
[crowd shouting.]
Let me guess: you wanna see my papers.
I was born here, dude.
135th Street.
Nah, we're NYPD.
We don't care about that.
So, you own this place? - Ten years.
- We just wanna know what you can tell us about the Samras.
Good, hard-working people.
Two beautiful girls.
What happened, I'm sick over it.
Oh, we are too.
Believe me.
So, as far as you know, there was nothing unusual going on over there? "Unusual"? You mean are they terrorists? Listen, all right? I got two raped, and a dead 18-year-old.
So we need to rule out certain things.
Like, were they involved in any kind of criminal activity? Drugs, gambling I didn't say anything about being a terrorist.
I'm so sick of all the harassment and fighting.
Everyone even the Hispanics hate us now.
They blame us for the raids, the deportations: "If it weren't for ISIS or 9/11, none of this would be happening.
" Like it's our fault these people don't have papers.
Did the Samras ever say anything about being harassed because they were Muslim? About a month ago, their front windows got broken.
Someone did some graffiti on the door: "Go home, Muslims.
" They know who they were? Maybe they called the cops? They didn't call anyone.
Too scared.
They replaced the windows, scrubbed off the graffiti.
Maya said, "I want to stay focused on the good in people.
" Now look where she is.
Thank you, sir.
It was after 10.
I was locking up for the night.
There was a very loud banging.
I thought maybe a customer forgot something, so I-I [sobs, sniffles.]
No.
I opened the door.
I don't know why I opened the door.
Mrs.
Samra, you couldn't have known.
[sighs.]
Three men in ski masks they pushed in.
They had guns.
They were shouting, "Where are your papers? We demand to see your papers.
" Then they ripped off our hijabs.
What about their voices? Did they have accents? No.
They sounded like New Yorkers young, white, I think.
Then what happened next? They forced me, Kanann, and the girls [sniffles.]
Into the kitchen.
They tied us up and they started breaking things.
Kanann was trying to get free.
[inhales deeply.]
They started kicking him.
[exhales deeply.]
Then they stabbed him.
Okay.
Was there anything that they said that you remember specifically? They wanted money.
One said "The girl is cute.
" [solemn music.]
They were talking about Shala.
And then Lela.
I shut my eyes, but I could hear the sounds.
And then it was quiet.
I'm so sorry, I I can't imagine.
I was helpless in my own restaurant while my two daughters [sighs.]
When they left, I broke free.
I saw that Shala was dead.
[quietly.]
Okay.
Why don't we take a break? Can I get you some water One of them didn't yell.
He whispered.
Okay.
That's helpful.
Do you remember what he whispered? [footsteps approach.]
Sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak with Mrs.
Samra.
Is it Lela? - Is she okay? - She's okay.
It's, um it's your husband.
So, they killed my sister and my father? I am so sorry.
[inhales shakily.]
So what do I do now? Um You tell me what you can recall.
The men's faces do you remember? The one who who, uh raped me I could smell tequila and beer on his breath.
I wanted to gag.
I know this is difficult.
[straining.]
I'm just trying to process all of this.
My fiancé, Sayid he flew home to Damascus in December.
His father is sick.
He he's been trying to come back, but he can't even though he has his green card.
Have you spoken with him yet? I can help you do that.
He's more conservative than I am.
[inhales.]
I need to speak to my Imam To figure out how to explain to Sayid what happened to me.
Okay.
Hi.
What do you got? Maybe something, maybe nothing.
CSU says there's three male footprints headed out the front door.
It's consistent with the mother's story.
But there's more.
Responding officers found this back door unlocked and ajar, but the perps came in the front door.
- Right.
- All right, check this out.
CSU found this fourth footprint, fresh from last night heading out the back door.
That's kinda strange, right? Maybe the perps were looking for an exit.
Nah.
That print doesn't match any of the perps' or Mr.
Samra's.
You're saying someone else was here during the commission of the crime? Looks like it.
And they just disappeared into the night? - So we're looking for a ghost.
- Ghost with a size-ten shoe.
[dark music.]
A size-ten male shoe ain't much to go on.
Not when the city's about to implode.
What about the rape kit? - No skin cells, no DNA, no semen.
- And nothing at the crime scene? CSU's still working on it, but it is a busy restaurant.
There's saliva and fingerprints all over the place.
What about this Aryan Nation thing I saw on the news? We're workin' on it.
Right now, it's just talk violent, racist gang trying to take credit for a gruesome hate crime.
It's standard operating procedure.
We got a hit on the tip line.
Another wacko trying to take credit? No, a couple from the neighborhood out walking their dog.
They think they saw something - that might be helpful.
- Good.
Bring 'em in here now.
Hi, thanks for coming in.
You said you had seen something.
Yeah, we were walking our dog, Feliz, and we saw this man just run out of the back alley of that restaurant.
It was at about 10:45 or so.
You're sure about that? - Yes.
- The guy who ran out into the alleyway - what'd he look like? - He was white.
- Dark haired.
- He could've been Arab.
Right? Or Hispanic.
Or a dark-haired Wasp from Greenwich.
- I have no idea.
- How tall was he? Medium height.
Like 5'10 ", 5'11".
- Thin.
- Young, old? He was young 20s.
- But it was dark.
- Okay, well, do you recall anything else? Clothing? A limp? Blood? - Anything? - He was running like hell.
That's what I noticed.
And, to be honest, we didn't think much of it - at the time, but - When we found out what happened at the restaurant, we knew we had to come forward.
- Thank you guys very much.
- What's happening in this country is insane.
I mean, this is America, right? Thanks for coming in.
Thank you.
So three men enter the front door.
And a fourth who, apparently, no one ever saw runs out the back door and leaves a bloody footprint.
Now, the question is: did he come with the perps? Or was he a innocent bystander, like a waiter who left a phone and came back? Maya said that they were heading home, so the staff had already left by the time the three perps showed up.
So the back door was most likely locked.
Let's just assume, for a moment, that our mystery man didn't show up with the perps, and is an innocent bystander.
That means he not only left through the back door, but he also entered through the back door.
Which means he had to have a key.
- Exactly.
- So what are you waiting for? Call the family and see who else had a key to the restaurant.
Someone else was there? Yeah, we found a footprint of a man, size 10.
It doesn't match the shoeprint of the other men we knew were there.
- Maybe it's old.
- We don't think so, because the impression was made in blood.
Which means that it's fresh.
And we also have two eye-witnesses who saw a man running out the back.
Yeah, that back door was left ajar and unlocked, so we know no one broke in.
Who has the key to the back door? Uh, me, Kanann, the girls.
And Yusef.
Who's Yusef? Yusef is my brother, but Lela is mistaken.
He doesn't have a key.
Not anymore.
He used to have one when he worked for us, but last month - We need to know who did this.
- I will do the talking for this family, do you understand me? Maya, Lela.
We're all on the same team here.
So we just need you to talk to us and tell us the truth.
[tense music.]
Does Yusef have a key to the back door? Yusef is not involved.
Okay.
Is Yusef mid-20s, thin, with dark hair? Yes.
Yes.
I'm sorry, but we need to know what happened.
I need his address.
- Please, do not arrest him.
- I need his address now.
NYPD! Yusef Massad, we need to talk.
What's going on? Why all the yelling? We need to talk to Yusef Massad.
- He's not here.
- Mind if we look around? You can't just walk into my apartment Sure we can.
- This is harassment.
- Where's Yusef? I look like his mama to you? Two people are dead.
Where is he? [furniture drags across floor.]
Fin.
[Grunting.]
[door banging.]
[groans.]
He's gone.
He's runnin'! Suspect's on the move, headed toward Jerome Avenue.
[panting.]
[suspenseful music.]
[siren wailing.]
- [grunts.]
Freeze! On your knees! Hands behind your head.
You speak English? Hands behind your head.
Your name Yusef Massad? - Yes.
- We need to talk to you.
About what happened at your sister's restaurant.
II don't know anything about that.
Then why the hell were you running? - Because I'm afraid.
- Of what? Being deported.
I I don't have documents.
I'm here illegally, and I'm uh You're what? I'm gay.
If I get sent back to a refugee camp, they will kill me.
Yusef, we're just trying to understand what happened at your sister's restaurant.
Nothin'.
Shala was raped and killed.
Your brother-in-law was beaten to death, - and Lela - I know what happened.
I was there.
I saw it with my own eyes.
I wanted to do something.
I swear.
But I I was afraid.
I loved Shala and Kanann.
They're my family.
I let them down.
I tried to text 911, but nothing happened.
I heard the sirens, so I ran.
Did you know the other men? You think I was with them? You think I-I wanted this to happen? We have to ask.
Of course I wasn't with them.
Okay, good.
So, Yusef, why were you there? To do my chores.
To collect the trash.
To clean the kitchen.
I wasn't supposed to be there.
I usually do that in the morning, but I had plans Saturday.
What time did you get to the restaurant? Around 10:30.
And you came in the back door? Yes.
I heard all this screaming.
I thought someone had broken in, and then I saw the men with the masks.
So I I hid.
[dark music.]
I should have grabbed a knife.
Yusef, what did you see? Three men.
And they were doing horrible things to my nieces.
All three of them? No.
Just two.
The other man was just standing there.
I saw his face.
He took his mask off - for a few seconds.
- You saw his face? Yes.
I think he used to work for the restaurant.
Finally, a lead.
If you believe what he's saying.
- You don't? - The guy hid in a closet and watched his whole family get terrorized, - and never called his sister? - He was frightened.
Then why not say something when it was all over? One, he's ashamed.
Two he's an undocumented, gay Muslim.
In his mind? He reports this crime, he's on the next plane to Syria.
Yusef.
I heard you arrested Yusef.
Maya.
He's here, but he's not been arrested.
Please, don't call Immigration.
No, of course.
Listen to me.
Our only concern is is finding the men who hurt your family.
[breathing heavily.]
So he's not in trouble? No.
What did he say? Was he even there? Yeah, he was there.
- And he saw everything that happened.
- And he recognized one of the men.
He thinks he worked at your restaurant.
[solemn music.]
[door opens.]
Why didn't you call me to tell me you were there? I'm sorry.
I just I couldn't get myself to admit that I didn't do anything.
That - I'm so weak.
- No.
Please please forgive me.
You are my brother.
I love you.
And I need you [sniffles.]
More than ever.
Yusef, you said that the man who took off his mask may have worked - for the restaurant.
- Yes.
He he looked familiar.
I've seen him before, somewhere.
Did you have any trouble, Maya, with your employees? Or former employees? No one in particular.
But it's been hard.
We had to fire a lot of our help because they were undocumented.
If we got raided, they would fine us.
They would shut us down.
We didn't have a choice.
Can you give us a list of anyone you let go? - Yes, of course.
- And also, is there a possibility that there's a group photo? Maybe of like a a party at the restaurant? Something that Yusef could use to ID the man he saw? Uh, yes.
A couple of months ago, we had a party for Shala [voice breaking.]
When she got accepted to Columbia.
Everyone was there.
Friends, family, employees.
It it was wonderful.
[Sniffles.]
Okay.
Do you recognize anyone? Yeah.
That's him.
Right there.
Hector? - No, that's not possible.
- Is he one of the employees you let go? Three weeks ago, but we treated him like family.
He How could he do this? Do you know where he lives? [knocking.]
- Hector Ramirez, NYPD.
- Open up.
[latch clatters.]
- Yes? Go.
- [grunts.]
- [screams.]
Wait, don't touch me.
Go, go this way.
- Oh, my kids - Ma'am? Ma'am! - [shouting in Spanish.]
- Back off! Back off! - Wait, don't touch my - Come here, come here.
Come here in the kitchen [shouts, pants.]
It's okay.
- It's okay.
- [Shouting in Spanish.]
- Is your dad here? - Don't touch my kids! All right, stay with them.
- What is he doing? - You calm yourself down.
Calm yourself down.
Now, where is your husband? - I don't - Where is Hector? I don't know.
When's the last time you spoke with him? [shouting.]
When? Last night? Today? I don't I don't know.
Where's he staying? It's clear.
It's like I said, he's not here.
You know what we think he is involved with something - very serious, you understand me? - Where is he, Soledad? He didn't do anything wrong.
This is a mistake.
All right, then tell us where he is, and we'll sort this out.
- I told you, I don't know.
- You can either tell us here, or we can take you down to the station and you can tell us there.
I can't leave my kids.
Oh, no, don't worry.
We'll call social services.
They'll take good care of 'em.
Social services? I'm telling you how it is.
He's working at a new restaurant.
On 125th.
Leo's.
Hey, you stay with her.
Make sure she doesn't contact him.
NYPD.
We're looking for Hector Ramirez.
Hey, no, no, no don't go anywhere, all right? Hector Ramirez.
We're not Immigration.
- Everybody stay put.
- What's goin' on? You're scaring the hell outta my customers.
- Where's Hector Ramirez? - Hector? Look, he told me he had papers No, we're not here about that.
- Where is he? - We need to find him now.
- Where is he? - Let's go.
The kitchen.
[suspenseful music.]
Hector Ramirez.
Hector Ramirez? I need to talk to you, all right? ¿Quê? [grunting.]
No! Mira, ¿quê es esto? - ¿Quê está pasando aqu� - We're gonna talk about what you did to the Samras.
Oh, no no comprendo, no comprendo.
No, no soy el hombre! No hice nada! No hice nada.
No soy el hombre.
Sit down.
Where were you Friday night, Hector? No comprende.
Yes, you do, Hector.
Yes, you do.
Hector, look at me.
Look at me.
You want a drink of water? Okay, so you do understand English.
Sure he does.
It wasn't me.
I swear.
Okay.
Ready to answer some questions? Yes.
Okay, I'm gonna make this real simple for you.
All you have to do is say yes or no.
You worked at the Samras' restaurant? Yes.
They fired you? - Yes.
- You were angry? Yes or no, Hector.
Yes.
They still owe me some money.
Okay, so you went back there on Friday night with your two friends, and you got some revenge, - didn't you? - Listen close, Hector.
We have a witness saw you take your ski mask off.
[tense music.]
They saw you, Hector.
That's game over.
Yeah, it is.
But listen.
I'll tell you what.
We think that one of the guys just watched he didn't rape anybody, he didn't kill anybody.
Now, maybe that guy was you.
So, what I'm saying is, if you come clean you tell us who the other two guys were you might be able to cut yourself a deal right now.
I would never hurt the Samras.
I like them.
Well, it's a hell of a way to show it.
Look, they're good people.
Good people you raped and murdered.
I didn't kill anybody.
Or rape anyone I swear to God, on my children.
Hey, listen.
I believe you.
You seem like a good person.
So maybe you did go back there because they owed you some money.
So let's go back.
Take it slow.
Tell me everything that happened on Friday night in your own words.
[Knocking.]
- Interrogation's over.
- What? His lawyer's here.
I don't have a lawyer.
You do now.
Naomi Ziegler.
I'm an attorney with the Immigration Defense Project.
- Uh-huh.
- I'll be representing Hector Ramirez.
Well, you got here quickly, Ms.
Ziegler.
Desperate times.
Can I ask on what grounds you're detaining my client? Your new client has been ID'd as being on the scene of the Samra double homicide.
- Has he been read his rights? - Of course.
- Have you arrested him? - Not yet.
But we have probable cause to believe that Mr.
Ramirez is involved in a hate crime.
He's done talking.
No more questions, and I want to meet with him now.
Right this way.
Somebody from the bust must've tipped her off.
Well, these immigration lawyers are - popping out of the woodwork.
- With all these raids taking place or rumored to be taking place you can't blame 'em.
It's actually a good thing.
It protects us in court down the road.
Let's get this Yusef fella in and make a formal ID.
Yeah.
Hey, thank you so much for coming.
So, like I said on the phone, we need Yusef to officially identify Hector Ramirez - in a lineup.
- Okay, okay.
But this is what we need: a guarantee that Yusef can stay here, in the United States; and that no one find out about his illegal status during this entire process.
They won't.
Not from us.
Because if he is deported, you know we will never see him again, and I could not bear that.
Lela would be devastated.
Yusef and her are so close.
How is Lela? Did her fiancé make it back from Syria? He got a flight to New York last night.
Finally.
That's good to hear.
She doesn't even want to talk to him.
- She's not herself.
- That's normal.
After what she went through it'll take some time.
So, you see, this is why we need Yusef - here, close to us.
- And we understand why you're nervous, but you are gonna be fine.
And Yusef is gonna be fine, okay? New York is a sanctuary city.
So no one will know I don't have papers? That is correct.
We're on your side.
I promise.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Would you come this way? [blinds click.]
Take your time.
I don't need to.
It's number four.
I'm very sorry for what happened to your family, but are you - absolutely certain that's - Stop.
- It's not the time or place.
- Of course.
Fine.
So we're done here.
[knocking.]
Let me talk to Hector again.
- We need to process him - Maybe there's a deal - to be had.
- Unless he coughs up the other two perps, there's nothing to discuss.
- Good work, Yusef.
- Uh-huh.
- What happens now? - We arrest Hector, - then we charge him.
- Oh, I mean for me.
What do I need to do? You need to testify in front of a grand jury so we can formally indict him.
- Okay.
- We can put you - in protective custody.
- No, I'll be fine.
Just don't leave the city.
Let's give him a protective detail, 24/7.
I'd feel even better if it was a detective.
Carisi.
Will you take Mr.
Massad home and stay with him until we call him - for the grand jury tomorrow? - Yeah, no problem.
- I don't need a babysitter.
- It's better this way.
Come on.
Let's go.
Hey, talk to Hector's lawyer again.
See if she's convinced him to make a deal.
Like I keep saying, I wasn't there.
We have a witness that ID'd you, swears he saw you there.
Picked you out of that lineup in two seconds flat.
And we're gonna find your footprints, your fingerprints, and your DNA all over that kitchen.
He used to work there.
[scoffs softly.]
Hector we don't think that you meant to hurt the Samras.
Everybody we talked to says you're a stand-up guy.
Good husband.
Good father.
So be smart.
Do the right thing.
Just tell us.
Who raped Lela? Who raped and killed Shala? Who kicked Kanann in the head, and then stabbed him in the stomach? [dark music.]
If you don't talk, you're going down for this whole thing, bro.
That's life in prison, no parole.
I wasn't there.
- Where were you? - At home.
- With my wife, Soledad.
- With your wife, huh? That's what my client maintains, and his wife will back up his story.
Sure she will.
No more questions.
That's his right.
You're under arrest for rape and murder.
With a hate-crime enhancement.
Stand up.
[handcuffs clicking.]
Come on.
So the immigration lawyer's playing a game - of liars' poker.
- She's pretty damn good, too.
Other than Yusef putting Hector at the scene, what other evidence do we have? No forensics yet.
He claims he was home with his wife.
And she's backin' him up too.
In the meantime, we are looking for video around Hector's apartment, going through his phone records, social media looking for anything to blow up his story.
What about the other two perps? We're talking to everybody that Hector knows, trying to shake something loose.
You ask me, it's just a matter of time.
I mean, these are not sophisticated criminals.
It does not feel like an organized, - anti-Muslim conspiracy here.
- Okay.
In the meantime, we need to arraign Hector, show the Muslim community that we're making some progress.
Thank you.
Looks good.
I like your skirt, but But what? Nothing.
It's very fashionable.
I need some cigarettes.
- You shouldn't smoke.
- [laughs.]
I shouldn't be attracted to men.
Either way, I'm going to the bodega.
I'm comin' with you.
Hey, Yusef if you don't mind me asking, what was the deal with that skirt? With Lela? [protesters shouting.]
Muslims believe that modesty, that um hiding the skin and the shape of the body is important.
It protects women from unwanted sexual advances.
Right.
[protestors shouting.]
- Everyone is so angry.
- I get it.
No, you don't.
People think we are terrorists.
- Like we are all the same.
- Most of us know better.
I don't think so.
But this protesting what do people think will happen? Things will change? No.
The world doesn't change people don't change.
Yeah, see, I don't believe that.
People uniting, making their voices heard, refusing to be oppressed that's what this country's all about.
I mean, that's why you came here, right? I came here because I like being alive.
[protestors shouting.]
[tires screech.]
[dramatic music.]
Oh, no.
No! Whoa, hey Yusef, what are you doing - [grunts.]
- I need to see some ID.
- I wasn't doing anything.
- Okay, listen, I'm Detective Carisi, Manhattan SVU.
This man is a material witness for the NYPD.
We still need to see his documentation.
I understand that, just just gimme a sec.
You have paperwork? An ID? As a courtesy, gimme a second to get our DA on the line.
Last chance.
Yes or no? - Don't say anything.
- That's it.
- You're comin' with us.
- Hey, what the hell are you doing? I just told you, I'm NYPD.
He's a material witness for a double homicide! No more hate! No more hate! - Yusef! - Back up.
Yusef, don't say anything.
You ask for a lawyer, all right? You promised me! I'll be there as soon as I can.
Where the hell are you taking him? One of the suspects in the Samra double murder, double rape case has been arraigned and is being held without bail.
There's nothing more to say at this time.
[reporters chatter.]
No comment.
No comment.
- No comment? - Arraigning a Mexican illegal is not necessarily the business we wanna be in right now.
Looks like we're making this kid a scapegoat supporting that crazy talk down in DC.
Wait, so if it was a white guy with scary tattoos? Better narrative.
[phone buzzing.]
It's been bad since the election, but these ICE raids are just makin' it worse.
Hey, Carisi.
What? When? Okay.
Okay, I'll meet you there.
Yusef just got caught up in a protest.
ICE snatched him up 15 minutes ago.
- Where'd they take him? - I don't know.
I'm meeting Carisi at the Field Office.
All right, I'll get you a warrant.
And let me know if you hear anything.
Yeah.
- Here he is.
- What can I help you with? We're looking for Yusef Massad.
He's a material witness in a pending double homicide investigation.
- Do you have a warrant? - We're in the process - of getting one, yeah.
- Well, when you get one, - you can come back.
- We need to find him right now.
Okay? He's supposed to testify in front of the grand jury tomorrow morning.
- That's not really our concern.
- Okay, where's your boss? Excuse me? Go get your boss.
Now.
Look, I realize you're young and you're trying to do your job, but I'm warning you: I've been doing my job a long time, and I got a lot of friends.
Are you threatening me? Yep.
Okay, thanks.
Okay, we're on it.
You should hear back soon.
- Hopefully.
- I don't understand.
Why is this so complicated? His name is Yusef Massad, and he was picked up an hour ago.
It's a mess.
That's why.
We don't have enough cells for all these guys.
We're putting them in jails, prisons, army barracks any place we can find.
Not exactly a well-oiled machine at the moment.
This is absurd.
New York is a sanctuary city.
You're not supposed to be rounding up immigrants.
Of course we are.
That's our job: to round up illegal immigrants.
Not our fault NYPD thinks it's above federal law This is a double rape, double homicide, so I'm pretty sure that Yusef is more valuable here, testifying, than he is in a refugee camp in Syria.
That is why I'm trying to help.
Okay, when you grab somebody, what happens next? - What is the process? - It depends on who does the grabbing and who does the processing.
Like I said, it's a mess right now.
- [computer pings.]
- [sighs.]
Okay, we got some good news.
We found your guy he is being held in Paterson, New Jersey.
We got some bad news, too.
It looks like he was deported previously for overstaying a student visa.
Okay, what does that mean? What are you saying? Get to Paterson as fast as you possibly can with a mat-wit warrant in your hand.
This is a state court warrant.
Because it's a state court case.
I understand, but that doesn't give you jurisdiction over Mr.
Massad.
Mr.
Massad is a material witness in a double rape, double homicide case that has been on the front page of every newspaper in this country - for the past week.
- Irrelevant.
- Is he here or not? - No.
- Where is he? - Mr.
Massad - is a national security threat.
- You've gotta be kidding me.
And he's being deported to Syria.
Okay, so he's being deported.
So he's still here.
- Where is he? What airport? - I can't disclose - that information.
- Listen, two people were killed, and you're deporting the one person that can ID the men that did this? I don't wanna get into politics, so I think it's time for y'all to leave before things get unpleasant.
No, no, they already are unpleasant.
I agree.
Now get the hell outta here.
Or what? You're gonna deport me to Cuba? You gonna take him to Italy? Okay, listen-believe it or not, we're all on the same side here.
- Y'all have a nice day.
- Okay.
Okay, let's get people at JFK and at Newark, and have somebody check every flight heading to Syria.
The plane left ten minutes ago.
- What? - Sorry.
Sorry? I got bosses just like you.
[sighs.]
[dark music.]
They really deported dude? He's over the Atlantic as we speak.
So what's that, payback for us not giving - the case to the FBI? - Who knows? With everything that's going on, they might've - deported him anyway.
- Please tell me we have - more evidence.
- Well, CSU did find a couple strands of Hector's hair - at the scene.
- He worked there for months.
He was let go three weeks ago.
It's gonna be easy - to explain that away.
- But three weeks is a long time they obviously clean the place.
- It's got an A rating.
- I understand, Carisi, but no jury's gonna convict based on two strands of hair.
What about Yusef's ID? It was an official lineup.
The defense attorney was there.
Without Yusef, it's meaningless.
We have to indict soon.
I know, I get it.
What are you gonna do? Pursuant to Rule 180.
80 of the Criminal Code, the people have just released Hector Ramirez.
He is still the prime suspect in this case, and we expect to formally indict him in the near future.
[crowd clamoring.]
- Two rapes, two murders - And he gets to walk out of here like nothing ever happened.
Well, he won't be free for long.
[crowd clamoring.]
Down there.
[glass shatters.]
[gasps.]
It's going down.
[indistinct shouting.]
[sighs.]
The release today of Samra double homicide suspect Hector Ramirez has galvanized civil unrest outside the courthouse.
Members of the Muslim and Latino communities - are out in force - You guys all right? - For the most part.
- Wasn't pretty.
Unfortunately, your day's not getting any easier.
- What now? - Maya and Lela Samra are here.
Yeah.
No, I don't understand.
You promised me that Yusef would be safe, that New York is a sanctuary city - And I am so sorry.
- No, no, this is on me.
I never should have let him leave the apartment.
No, no.
Yusef is stubborn.
He wanted cigarettes.
But he needs to testify.
He's our most important witness.
You said that the D.
A.
was getting a warrant.
By the time we found out where Yusef was being held, it was too late.
He was already on a plane headed to Syria.
So get him back.
I have to be honest with you.
I don't know if that's possible.
So he's just gone? And Hector gets to go free.
Like, the rapes and murders never happened.
Listen to me, we are gonna find them.
And we are gonna prosecute them.
We are not giving up on this case.
Liv, we have a situation.
Excuse me.
What? [sirens wailing.]
- Move in! Move in! Move in! Lieutenant Benson, SVU.
Hector Ramirez inside? - Being held at gunpoint.
- By who? Witnesses say two males, 20s, Middle Eastern.
- Do we know what they want? - No.
Hostage negotiation's been calling the bar's landline; they're not picking up.
- Anybody else inside? - No, they let all the employees, rest of the patrons go.
Just the three of them.
We're setting up pole cams now.
See if we can isolate the hostage takers.
Okay, I cannot risk this witness getting killed.
We're on the same page.
Last thing we want - is to lose a hostage.
- I understand that - but this witness is different.
- We'll try to negotiate.
But if we get a clear shot, we're gonna take it.
- Ugh! - Come on.
[police radio chatter.]
[phone ringing.]
Aakif, there's a lot of cops out there.
Good! They should know we're serious.
Who killed Kanann and Shala Samra? It wasn't me.
I didn't hurt them.
Then who did? [phone ringing.]
- Should I pick it up? - No! They gave you a job.
They looked out for you.
This is how you repay them?! - You have a visual in the back window.
Are you seeing it? Copy.
I have a clear shot.
- Take it now.
- Just wait.
- [grunts.]
- Ohh! Move, move, move! [siren wailing.]
- No! Aakif, no! - Police! Let me see your hands! Ah, no! The Samras are good people! - We just wanted justice - All right, get him back here.
- Hector.
- They were gonna kill me! - Yeah, well, they didn't.
- Get him out of here.
[police radio chatter.]
[sighs.]
In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit.
These are their stories.
It's a little crisper tonight.
It's finally feeling like normal weather.
Yeah, that's crazy.
It was 70 in February, remember? [laughs.]
But there's definitely no such thing as global warming.
Yeah, and tell that to the EPA.
Oh, no, wait there is no EPA.
"Samra.
" Isn't that on our list to try? Yeah, Bill and Tony raved about it.
Modern Syrian cuisine.
Apparently, the fried kibbe here - is awesome.
- Yum.
Take another lap around the block? We'll miss the news.
Maybe we're better off.
Come on.
It's a beautiful night.
[dog barking.]
[woman shouting, glass breaking.]
[faint screaming.]
[grunting.]
Help! Help! Help us! Stop! Take the money! [screaming.]
[smacking.]
Where are your Muslim gods now, huh? Come here.
Come here, you towelhead.
Shut up.
[Screaming and crying.]
[girl shouting indistinctly.]
- Easy! - Get off me! [screaming.]
Come on.
Let's get out of here.
- Stop it! - Not yet.
- Huh? - Get up! - [crying.]
No! - Dirty Muslim bitch.
- Leave her leave her alone! - Help, Mom! - Mom! [Crying.]
- Mmm! This is gonna be good! Leave her alone! Let's go, come on.
Right over here.
This isn't worth it, man.
[screaming and crying.]
- Come on! Let's go.
- Leave her alone.
- Let's go.
Let's go.
- No, no! No, no, no! Hey, you wanna have some fun, baby? [crying.]
- Hey, this isn't what we came - Shut up! [slam.]
- [crying.]
- Don't worry, baby.
I'll be gentle.
[Gun clicks.]
[sobbing.]
No.
No.
- [sobbing.]
- No! NYPD coming through.
I came as soon as I could.
How bad is it? It's as bad as it gets.
One DOA Shala Samra.
She's raped, has a fractured skull.
And her older sister, Lela she was raped, but she'll live.
She's on her way to Bellevue - with her mother.
- But the father? Kanann Samra.
He's in critical condition blunt-force trauma to the head, two stab wounds.
He's on his way to Bellevue too.
Lieutenant Benson? Detective Lopez.
Yeah, sure Ray.
How you doing? Been better.
Let me walk you guys through the scene.
According to the mother, three perps forced their way in tied 'em up.
After they did the rapes and the murder, they ran out the front door.
Ten minutes later, the mother escapes.
She flagged down a cop car.
Can she say anything? Not really.
Poor lady's a mess.
They did a number on this girl.
[dark music.]
The cash register, the wall safe both cleaned out.
Techs are still duing for prints, but no matches in the system yet.
Feels like more than a robbery gone bad.
Yeah.
Lieutenant.
[police radio chatter.]
Take a look.
[sighs.]
It's a hate crime.
[dramatic music.]
This is from last night in front of Samra's Restaurant 10:10 p.
m.
Three males in ski masks.
That's it? - Nothing else? - Taru's going through the footage frame by frame.
We're canvassing the neighborhoods, talking to neighbors, looking for video, witnesses - Any forensics at the scene? - Oh, they're still going through it.
This place was a mess.
My God.
This kind of racism and hate.
It's 2017.
It's happening everywhere, Chief.
Well, it shouldn't happen here.
Not in New York City.
We're working this 24/7.
All hands on.
All precincts, all boroughs.
I see Hate Crimes is already involved.
What do you have, Ray? We're talking to all our informants in the streets, prisons, and gangs.
Have you been in touch with the FBI? Just got off the phone with the head of Civil Rights unit.
They want the case I told 'em it was ours.
Unless you're telling me it's not.
No, this is NYPD.
It's double rape, one murder.
We'll call 'em if we need 'em.
So, what do we know about the family? Kanann and Maya Samra.
They immigrated legally from Damascus 25 years ago.
Their daughters, Lela and Shala they were born here in New York.
It's a family-run restaurant.
They've been in business 15 years.
There's no apparent financial issues.
They're like model citizens.
They pay their taxes, there's no legal problems in their past not even a parking ticket.
Anything else? They're practicing Muslims.
They attend a local mosque.
No connection to any radical groups.
It's a perfect American family.
[phone chimes.]
Yeah oh, good news.
Maya and Lela are in stable condition.
- They're willing to talk.
- Okay.
Rollins, you come with me.
Fin and Carisi, go back to the crime scene.
Talk to anyone and everyone: neighbors, shop owners, competitors you know patrons of the restaurant There are hundreds of Muslim restaurants.
They picked Samra.
I wanna know why.
On it, Liv.
[crowd shouting.]
Let me guess: you wanna see my papers.
I was born here, dude.
135th Street.
Nah, we're NYPD.
We don't care about that.
So, you own this place? - Ten years.
- We just wanna know what you can tell us about the Samras.
Good, hard-working people.
Two beautiful girls.
What happened, I'm sick over it.
Oh, we are too.
Believe me.
So, as far as you know, there was nothing unusual going on over there? "Unusual"? You mean are they terrorists? Listen, all right? I got two raped, and a dead 18-year-old.
So we need to rule out certain things.
Like, were they involved in any kind of criminal activity? Drugs, gambling I didn't say anything about being a terrorist.
I'm so sick of all the harassment and fighting.
Everyone even the Hispanics hate us now.
They blame us for the raids, the deportations: "If it weren't for ISIS or 9/11, none of this would be happening.
" Like it's our fault these people don't have papers.
Did the Samras ever say anything about being harassed because they were Muslim? About a month ago, their front windows got broken.
Someone did some graffiti on the door: "Go home, Muslims.
" They know who they were? Maybe they called the cops? They didn't call anyone.
Too scared.
They replaced the windows, scrubbed off the graffiti.
Maya said, "I want to stay focused on the good in people.
" Now look where she is.
Thank you, sir.
It was after 10.
I was locking up for the night.
There was a very loud banging.
I thought maybe a customer forgot something, so I-I [sobs, sniffles.]
No.
I opened the door.
I don't know why I opened the door.
Mrs.
Samra, you couldn't have known.
[sighs.]
Three men in ski masks they pushed in.
They had guns.
They were shouting, "Where are your papers? We demand to see your papers.
" Then they ripped off our hijabs.
What about their voices? Did they have accents? No.
They sounded like New Yorkers young, white, I think.
Then what happened next? They forced me, Kanann, and the girls [sniffles.]
Into the kitchen.
They tied us up and they started breaking things.
Kanann was trying to get free.
[inhales deeply.]
They started kicking him.
[exhales deeply.]
Then they stabbed him.
Okay.
Was there anything that they said that you remember specifically? They wanted money.
One said "The girl is cute.
" [solemn music.]
They were talking about Shala.
And then Lela.
I shut my eyes, but I could hear the sounds.
And then it was quiet.
I'm so sorry, I I can't imagine.
I was helpless in my own restaurant while my two daughters [sighs.]
When they left, I broke free.
I saw that Shala was dead.
[quietly.]
Okay.
Why don't we take a break? Can I get you some water One of them didn't yell.
He whispered.
Okay.
That's helpful.
Do you remember what he whispered? [footsteps approach.]
Sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak with Mrs.
Samra.
Is it Lela? - Is she okay? - She's okay.
It's, um it's your husband.
So, they killed my sister and my father? I am so sorry.
[inhales shakily.]
So what do I do now? Um You tell me what you can recall.
The men's faces do you remember? The one who who, uh raped me I could smell tequila and beer on his breath.
I wanted to gag.
I know this is difficult.
[straining.]
I'm just trying to process all of this.
My fiancé, Sayid he flew home to Damascus in December.
His father is sick.
He he's been trying to come back, but he can't even though he has his green card.
Have you spoken with him yet? I can help you do that.
He's more conservative than I am.
[inhales.]
I need to speak to my Imam To figure out how to explain to Sayid what happened to me.
Okay.
Hi.
What do you got? Maybe something, maybe nothing.
CSU says there's three male footprints headed out the front door.
It's consistent with the mother's story.
But there's more.
Responding officers found this back door unlocked and ajar, but the perps came in the front door.
- Right.
- All right, check this out.
CSU found this fourth footprint, fresh from last night heading out the back door.
That's kinda strange, right? Maybe the perps were looking for an exit.
Nah.
That print doesn't match any of the perps' or Mr.
Samra's.
You're saying someone else was here during the commission of the crime? Looks like it.
And they just disappeared into the night? - So we're looking for a ghost.
- Ghost with a size-ten shoe.
[dark music.]
A size-ten male shoe ain't much to go on.
Not when the city's about to implode.
What about the rape kit? - No skin cells, no DNA, no semen.
- And nothing at the crime scene? CSU's still working on it, but it is a busy restaurant.
There's saliva and fingerprints all over the place.
What about this Aryan Nation thing I saw on the news? We're workin' on it.
Right now, it's just talk violent, racist gang trying to take credit for a gruesome hate crime.
It's standard operating procedure.
We got a hit on the tip line.
Another wacko trying to take credit? No, a couple from the neighborhood out walking their dog.
They think they saw something - that might be helpful.
- Good.
Bring 'em in here now.
Hi, thanks for coming in.
You said you had seen something.
Yeah, we were walking our dog, Feliz, and we saw this man just run out of the back alley of that restaurant.
It was at about 10:45 or so.
You're sure about that? - Yes.
- The guy who ran out into the alleyway - what'd he look like? - He was white.
- Dark haired.
- He could've been Arab.
Right? Or Hispanic.
Or a dark-haired Wasp from Greenwich.
- I have no idea.
- How tall was he? Medium height.
Like 5'10 ", 5'11".
- Thin.
- Young, old? He was young 20s.
- But it was dark.
- Okay, well, do you recall anything else? Clothing? A limp? Blood? - Anything? - He was running like hell.
That's what I noticed.
And, to be honest, we didn't think much of it - at the time, but - When we found out what happened at the restaurant, we knew we had to come forward.
- Thank you guys very much.
- What's happening in this country is insane.
I mean, this is America, right? Thanks for coming in.
Thank you.
So three men enter the front door.
And a fourth who, apparently, no one ever saw runs out the back door and leaves a bloody footprint.
Now, the question is: did he come with the perps? Or was he a innocent bystander, like a waiter who left a phone and came back? Maya said that they were heading home, so the staff had already left by the time the three perps showed up.
So the back door was most likely locked.
Let's just assume, for a moment, that our mystery man didn't show up with the perps, and is an innocent bystander.
That means he not only left through the back door, but he also entered through the back door.
Which means he had to have a key.
- Exactly.
- So what are you waiting for? Call the family and see who else had a key to the restaurant.
Someone else was there? Yeah, we found a footprint of a man, size 10.
It doesn't match the shoeprint of the other men we knew were there.
- Maybe it's old.
- We don't think so, because the impression was made in blood.
Which means that it's fresh.
And we also have two eye-witnesses who saw a man running out the back.
Yeah, that back door was left ajar and unlocked, so we know no one broke in.
Who has the key to the back door? Uh, me, Kanann, the girls.
And Yusef.
Who's Yusef? Yusef is my brother, but Lela is mistaken.
He doesn't have a key.
Not anymore.
He used to have one when he worked for us, but last month - We need to know who did this.
- I will do the talking for this family, do you understand me? Maya, Lela.
We're all on the same team here.
So we just need you to talk to us and tell us the truth.
[tense music.]
Does Yusef have a key to the back door? Yusef is not involved.
Okay.
Is Yusef mid-20s, thin, with dark hair? Yes.
Yes.
I'm sorry, but we need to know what happened.
I need his address.
- Please, do not arrest him.
- I need his address now.
NYPD! Yusef Massad, we need to talk.
What's going on? Why all the yelling? We need to talk to Yusef Massad.
- He's not here.
- Mind if we look around? You can't just walk into my apartment Sure we can.
- This is harassment.
- Where's Yusef? I look like his mama to you? Two people are dead.
Where is he? [furniture drags across floor.]
Fin.
[Grunting.]
[door banging.]
[groans.]
He's gone.
He's runnin'! Suspect's on the move, headed toward Jerome Avenue.
[panting.]
[suspenseful music.]
[siren wailing.]
- [grunts.]
Freeze! On your knees! Hands behind your head.
You speak English? Hands behind your head.
Your name Yusef Massad? - Yes.
- We need to talk to you.
About what happened at your sister's restaurant.
II don't know anything about that.
Then why the hell were you running? - Because I'm afraid.
- Of what? Being deported.
I I don't have documents.
I'm here illegally, and I'm uh You're what? I'm gay.
If I get sent back to a refugee camp, they will kill me.
Yusef, we're just trying to understand what happened at your sister's restaurant.
Nothin'.
Shala was raped and killed.
Your brother-in-law was beaten to death, - and Lela - I know what happened.
I was there.
I saw it with my own eyes.
I wanted to do something.
I swear.
But I I was afraid.
I loved Shala and Kanann.
They're my family.
I let them down.
I tried to text 911, but nothing happened.
I heard the sirens, so I ran.
Did you know the other men? You think I was with them? You think I-I wanted this to happen? We have to ask.
Of course I wasn't with them.
Okay, good.
So, Yusef, why were you there? To do my chores.
To collect the trash.
To clean the kitchen.
I wasn't supposed to be there.
I usually do that in the morning, but I had plans Saturday.
What time did you get to the restaurant? Around 10:30.
And you came in the back door? Yes.
I heard all this screaming.
I thought someone had broken in, and then I saw the men with the masks.
So I I hid.
[dark music.]
I should have grabbed a knife.
Yusef, what did you see? Three men.
And they were doing horrible things to my nieces.
All three of them? No.
Just two.
The other man was just standing there.
I saw his face.
He took his mask off - for a few seconds.
- You saw his face? Yes.
I think he used to work for the restaurant.
Finally, a lead.
If you believe what he's saying.
- You don't? - The guy hid in a closet and watched his whole family get terrorized, - and never called his sister? - He was frightened.
Then why not say something when it was all over? One, he's ashamed.
Two he's an undocumented, gay Muslim.
In his mind? He reports this crime, he's on the next plane to Syria.
Yusef.
I heard you arrested Yusef.
Maya.
He's here, but he's not been arrested.
Please, don't call Immigration.
No, of course.
Listen to me.
Our only concern is is finding the men who hurt your family.
[breathing heavily.]
So he's not in trouble? No.
What did he say? Was he even there? Yeah, he was there.
- And he saw everything that happened.
- And he recognized one of the men.
He thinks he worked at your restaurant.
[solemn music.]
[door opens.]
Why didn't you call me to tell me you were there? I'm sorry.
I just I couldn't get myself to admit that I didn't do anything.
That - I'm so weak.
- No.
Please please forgive me.
You are my brother.
I love you.
And I need you [sniffles.]
More than ever.
Yusef, you said that the man who took off his mask may have worked - for the restaurant.
- Yes.
He he looked familiar.
I've seen him before, somewhere.
Did you have any trouble, Maya, with your employees? Or former employees? No one in particular.
But it's been hard.
We had to fire a lot of our help because they were undocumented.
If we got raided, they would fine us.
They would shut us down.
We didn't have a choice.
Can you give us a list of anyone you let go? - Yes, of course.
- And also, is there a possibility that there's a group photo? Maybe of like a a party at the restaurant? Something that Yusef could use to ID the man he saw? Uh, yes.
A couple of months ago, we had a party for Shala [voice breaking.]
When she got accepted to Columbia.
Everyone was there.
Friends, family, employees.
It it was wonderful.
[Sniffles.]
Okay.
Do you recognize anyone? Yeah.
That's him.
Right there.
Hector? - No, that's not possible.
- Is he one of the employees you let go? Three weeks ago, but we treated him like family.
He How could he do this? Do you know where he lives? [knocking.]
- Hector Ramirez, NYPD.
- Open up.
[latch clatters.]
- Yes? Go.
- [grunts.]
- [screams.]
Wait, don't touch me.
Go, go this way.
- Oh, my kids - Ma'am? Ma'am! - [shouting in Spanish.]
- Back off! Back off! - Wait, don't touch my - Come here, come here.
Come here in the kitchen [shouts, pants.]
It's okay.
- It's okay.
- [Shouting in Spanish.]
- Is your dad here? - Don't touch my kids! All right, stay with them.
- What is he doing? - You calm yourself down.
Calm yourself down.
Now, where is your husband? - I don't - Where is Hector? I don't know.
When's the last time you spoke with him? [shouting.]
When? Last night? Today? I don't I don't know.
Where's he staying? It's clear.
It's like I said, he's not here.
You know what we think he is involved with something - very serious, you understand me? - Where is he, Soledad? He didn't do anything wrong.
This is a mistake.
All right, then tell us where he is, and we'll sort this out.
- I told you, I don't know.
- You can either tell us here, or we can take you down to the station and you can tell us there.
I can't leave my kids.
Oh, no, don't worry.
We'll call social services.
They'll take good care of 'em.
Social services? I'm telling you how it is.
He's working at a new restaurant.
On 125th.
Leo's.
Hey, you stay with her.
Make sure she doesn't contact him.
NYPD.
We're looking for Hector Ramirez.
Hey, no, no, no don't go anywhere, all right? Hector Ramirez.
We're not Immigration.
- Everybody stay put.
- What's goin' on? You're scaring the hell outta my customers.
- Where's Hector Ramirez? - Hector? Look, he told me he had papers No, we're not here about that.
- Where is he? - We need to find him now.
- Where is he? - Let's go.
The kitchen.
[suspenseful music.]
Hector Ramirez.
Hector Ramirez? I need to talk to you, all right? ¿Quê? [grunting.]
No! Mira, ¿quê es esto? - ¿Quê está pasando aqu� - We're gonna talk about what you did to the Samras.
Oh, no no comprendo, no comprendo.
No, no soy el hombre! No hice nada! No hice nada.
No soy el hombre.
Sit down.
Where were you Friday night, Hector? No comprende.
Yes, you do, Hector.
Yes, you do.
Hector, look at me.
Look at me.
You want a drink of water? Okay, so you do understand English.
Sure he does.
It wasn't me.
I swear.
Okay.
Ready to answer some questions? Yes.
Okay, I'm gonna make this real simple for you.
All you have to do is say yes or no.
You worked at the Samras' restaurant? Yes.
They fired you? - Yes.
- You were angry? Yes or no, Hector.
Yes.
They still owe me some money.
Okay, so you went back there on Friday night with your two friends, and you got some revenge, - didn't you? - Listen close, Hector.
We have a witness saw you take your ski mask off.
[tense music.]
They saw you, Hector.
That's game over.
Yeah, it is.
But listen.
I'll tell you what.
We think that one of the guys just watched he didn't rape anybody, he didn't kill anybody.
Now, maybe that guy was you.
So, what I'm saying is, if you come clean you tell us who the other two guys were you might be able to cut yourself a deal right now.
I would never hurt the Samras.
I like them.
Well, it's a hell of a way to show it.
Look, they're good people.
Good people you raped and murdered.
I didn't kill anybody.
Or rape anyone I swear to God, on my children.
Hey, listen.
I believe you.
You seem like a good person.
So maybe you did go back there because they owed you some money.
So let's go back.
Take it slow.
Tell me everything that happened on Friday night in your own words.
[Knocking.]
- Interrogation's over.
- What? His lawyer's here.
I don't have a lawyer.
You do now.
Naomi Ziegler.
I'm an attorney with the Immigration Defense Project.
- Uh-huh.
- I'll be representing Hector Ramirez.
Well, you got here quickly, Ms.
Ziegler.
Desperate times.
Can I ask on what grounds you're detaining my client? Your new client has been ID'd as being on the scene of the Samra double homicide.
- Has he been read his rights? - Of course.
- Have you arrested him? - Not yet.
But we have probable cause to believe that Mr.
Ramirez is involved in a hate crime.
He's done talking.
No more questions, and I want to meet with him now.
Right this way.
Somebody from the bust must've tipped her off.
Well, these immigration lawyers are - popping out of the woodwork.
- With all these raids taking place or rumored to be taking place you can't blame 'em.
It's actually a good thing.
It protects us in court down the road.
Let's get this Yusef fella in and make a formal ID.
Yeah.
Hey, thank you so much for coming.
So, like I said on the phone, we need Yusef to officially identify Hector Ramirez - in a lineup.
- Okay, okay.
But this is what we need: a guarantee that Yusef can stay here, in the United States; and that no one find out about his illegal status during this entire process.
They won't.
Not from us.
Because if he is deported, you know we will never see him again, and I could not bear that.
Lela would be devastated.
Yusef and her are so close.
How is Lela? Did her fiancé make it back from Syria? He got a flight to New York last night.
Finally.
That's good to hear.
She doesn't even want to talk to him.
- She's not herself.
- That's normal.
After what she went through it'll take some time.
So, you see, this is why we need Yusef - here, close to us.
- And we understand why you're nervous, but you are gonna be fine.
And Yusef is gonna be fine, okay? New York is a sanctuary city.
So no one will know I don't have papers? That is correct.
We're on your side.
I promise.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Would you come this way? [blinds click.]
Take your time.
I don't need to.
It's number four.
I'm very sorry for what happened to your family, but are you - absolutely certain that's - Stop.
- It's not the time or place.
- Of course.
Fine.
So we're done here.
[knocking.]
Let me talk to Hector again.
- We need to process him - Maybe there's a deal - to be had.
- Unless he coughs up the other two perps, there's nothing to discuss.
- Good work, Yusef.
- Uh-huh.
- What happens now? - We arrest Hector, - then we charge him.
- Oh, I mean for me.
What do I need to do? You need to testify in front of a grand jury so we can formally indict him.
- Okay.
- We can put you - in protective custody.
- No, I'll be fine.
Just don't leave the city.
Let's give him a protective detail, 24/7.
I'd feel even better if it was a detective.
Carisi.
Will you take Mr.
Massad home and stay with him until we call him - for the grand jury tomorrow? - Yeah, no problem.
- I don't need a babysitter.
- It's better this way.
Come on.
Let's go.
Hey, talk to Hector's lawyer again.
See if she's convinced him to make a deal.
Like I keep saying, I wasn't there.
We have a witness that ID'd you, swears he saw you there.
Picked you out of that lineup in two seconds flat.
And we're gonna find your footprints, your fingerprints, and your DNA all over that kitchen.
He used to work there.
[scoffs softly.]
Hector we don't think that you meant to hurt the Samras.
Everybody we talked to says you're a stand-up guy.
Good husband.
Good father.
So be smart.
Do the right thing.
Just tell us.
Who raped Lela? Who raped and killed Shala? Who kicked Kanann in the head, and then stabbed him in the stomach? [dark music.]
If you don't talk, you're going down for this whole thing, bro.
That's life in prison, no parole.
I wasn't there.
- Where were you? - At home.
- With my wife, Soledad.
- With your wife, huh? That's what my client maintains, and his wife will back up his story.
Sure she will.
No more questions.
That's his right.
You're under arrest for rape and murder.
With a hate-crime enhancement.
Stand up.
[handcuffs clicking.]
Come on.
So the immigration lawyer's playing a game - of liars' poker.
- She's pretty damn good, too.
Other than Yusef putting Hector at the scene, what other evidence do we have? No forensics yet.
He claims he was home with his wife.
And she's backin' him up too.
In the meantime, we are looking for video around Hector's apartment, going through his phone records, social media looking for anything to blow up his story.
What about the other two perps? We're talking to everybody that Hector knows, trying to shake something loose.
You ask me, it's just a matter of time.
I mean, these are not sophisticated criminals.
It does not feel like an organized, - anti-Muslim conspiracy here.
- Okay.
In the meantime, we need to arraign Hector, show the Muslim community that we're making some progress.
Thank you.
Looks good.
I like your skirt, but But what? Nothing.
It's very fashionable.
I need some cigarettes.
- You shouldn't smoke.
- [laughs.]
I shouldn't be attracted to men.
Either way, I'm going to the bodega.
I'm comin' with you.
Hey, Yusef if you don't mind me asking, what was the deal with that skirt? With Lela? [protesters shouting.]
Muslims believe that modesty, that um hiding the skin and the shape of the body is important.
It protects women from unwanted sexual advances.
Right.
[protestors shouting.]
- Everyone is so angry.
- I get it.
No, you don't.
People think we are terrorists.
- Like we are all the same.
- Most of us know better.
I don't think so.
But this protesting what do people think will happen? Things will change? No.
The world doesn't change people don't change.
Yeah, see, I don't believe that.
People uniting, making their voices heard, refusing to be oppressed that's what this country's all about.
I mean, that's why you came here, right? I came here because I like being alive.
[protestors shouting.]
[tires screech.]
[dramatic music.]
Oh, no.
No! Whoa, hey Yusef, what are you doing - [grunts.]
- I need to see some ID.
- I wasn't doing anything.
- Okay, listen, I'm Detective Carisi, Manhattan SVU.
This man is a material witness for the NYPD.
We still need to see his documentation.
I understand that, just just gimme a sec.
You have paperwork? An ID? As a courtesy, gimme a second to get our DA on the line.
Last chance.
Yes or no? - Don't say anything.
- That's it.
- You're comin' with us.
- Hey, what the hell are you doing? I just told you, I'm NYPD.
He's a material witness for a double homicide! No more hate! No more hate! - Yusef! - Back up.
Yusef, don't say anything.
You ask for a lawyer, all right? You promised me! I'll be there as soon as I can.
Where the hell are you taking him? One of the suspects in the Samra double murder, double rape case has been arraigned and is being held without bail.
There's nothing more to say at this time.
[reporters chatter.]
No comment.
No comment.
- No comment? - Arraigning a Mexican illegal is not necessarily the business we wanna be in right now.
Looks like we're making this kid a scapegoat supporting that crazy talk down in DC.
Wait, so if it was a white guy with scary tattoos? Better narrative.
[phone buzzing.]
It's been bad since the election, but these ICE raids are just makin' it worse.
Hey, Carisi.
What? When? Okay.
Okay, I'll meet you there.
Yusef just got caught up in a protest.
ICE snatched him up 15 minutes ago.
- Where'd they take him? - I don't know.
I'm meeting Carisi at the Field Office.
All right, I'll get you a warrant.
And let me know if you hear anything.
Yeah.
- Here he is.
- What can I help you with? We're looking for Yusef Massad.
He's a material witness in a pending double homicide investigation.
- Do you have a warrant? - We're in the process - of getting one, yeah.
- Well, when you get one, - you can come back.
- We need to find him right now.
Okay? He's supposed to testify in front of the grand jury tomorrow morning.
- That's not really our concern.
- Okay, where's your boss? Excuse me? Go get your boss.
Now.
Look, I realize you're young and you're trying to do your job, but I'm warning you: I've been doing my job a long time, and I got a lot of friends.
Are you threatening me? Yep.
Okay, thanks.
Okay, we're on it.
You should hear back soon.
- Hopefully.
- I don't understand.
Why is this so complicated? His name is Yusef Massad, and he was picked up an hour ago.
It's a mess.
That's why.
We don't have enough cells for all these guys.
We're putting them in jails, prisons, army barracks any place we can find.
Not exactly a well-oiled machine at the moment.
This is absurd.
New York is a sanctuary city.
You're not supposed to be rounding up immigrants.
Of course we are.
That's our job: to round up illegal immigrants.
Not our fault NYPD thinks it's above federal law This is a double rape, double homicide, so I'm pretty sure that Yusef is more valuable here, testifying, than he is in a refugee camp in Syria.
That is why I'm trying to help.
Okay, when you grab somebody, what happens next? - What is the process? - It depends on who does the grabbing and who does the processing.
Like I said, it's a mess right now.
- [computer pings.]
- [sighs.]
Okay, we got some good news.
We found your guy he is being held in Paterson, New Jersey.
We got some bad news, too.
It looks like he was deported previously for overstaying a student visa.
Okay, what does that mean? What are you saying? Get to Paterson as fast as you possibly can with a mat-wit warrant in your hand.
This is a state court warrant.
Because it's a state court case.
I understand, but that doesn't give you jurisdiction over Mr.
Massad.
Mr.
Massad is a material witness in a double rape, double homicide case that has been on the front page of every newspaper in this country - for the past week.
- Irrelevant.
- Is he here or not? - No.
- Where is he? - Mr.
Massad - is a national security threat.
- You've gotta be kidding me.
And he's being deported to Syria.
Okay, so he's being deported.
So he's still here.
- Where is he? What airport? - I can't disclose - that information.
- Listen, two people were killed, and you're deporting the one person that can ID the men that did this? I don't wanna get into politics, so I think it's time for y'all to leave before things get unpleasant.
No, no, they already are unpleasant.
I agree.
Now get the hell outta here.
Or what? You're gonna deport me to Cuba? You gonna take him to Italy? Okay, listen-believe it or not, we're all on the same side here.
- Y'all have a nice day.
- Okay.
Okay, let's get people at JFK and at Newark, and have somebody check every flight heading to Syria.
The plane left ten minutes ago.
- What? - Sorry.
Sorry? I got bosses just like you.
[sighs.]
[dark music.]
They really deported dude? He's over the Atlantic as we speak.
So what's that, payback for us not giving - the case to the FBI? - Who knows? With everything that's going on, they might've - deported him anyway.
- Please tell me we have - more evidence.
- Well, CSU did find a couple strands of Hector's hair - at the scene.
- He worked there for months.
He was let go three weeks ago.
It's gonna be easy - to explain that away.
- But three weeks is a long time they obviously clean the place.
- It's got an A rating.
- I understand, Carisi, but no jury's gonna convict based on two strands of hair.
What about Yusef's ID? It was an official lineup.
The defense attorney was there.
Without Yusef, it's meaningless.
We have to indict soon.
I know, I get it.
What are you gonna do? Pursuant to Rule 180.
80 of the Criminal Code, the people have just released Hector Ramirez.
He is still the prime suspect in this case, and we expect to formally indict him in the near future.
[crowd clamoring.]
- Two rapes, two murders - And he gets to walk out of here like nothing ever happened.
Well, he won't be free for long.
[crowd clamoring.]
Down there.
[glass shatters.]
[gasps.]
It's going down.
[indistinct shouting.]
[sighs.]
The release today of Samra double homicide suspect Hector Ramirez has galvanized civil unrest outside the courthouse.
Members of the Muslim and Latino communities - are out in force - You guys all right? - For the most part.
- Wasn't pretty.
Unfortunately, your day's not getting any easier.
- What now? - Maya and Lela Samra are here.
Yeah.
No, I don't understand.
You promised me that Yusef would be safe, that New York is a sanctuary city - And I am so sorry.
- No, no, this is on me.
I never should have let him leave the apartment.
No, no.
Yusef is stubborn.
He wanted cigarettes.
But he needs to testify.
He's our most important witness.
You said that the D.
A.
was getting a warrant.
By the time we found out where Yusef was being held, it was too late.
He was already on a plane headed to Syria.
So get him back.
I have to be honest with you.
I don't know if that's possible.
So he's just gone? And Hector gets to go free.
Like, the rapes and murders never happened.
Listen to me, we are gonna find them.
And we are gonna prosecute them.
We are not giving up on this case.
Liv, we have a situation.
Excuse me.
What? [sirens wailing.]
- Move in! Move in! Move in! Lieutenant Benson, SVU.
Hector Ramirez inside? - Being held at gunpoint.
- By who? Witnesses say two males, 20s, Middle Eastern.
- Do we know what they want? - No.
Hostage negotiation's been calling the bar's landline; they're not picking up.
- Anybody else inside? - No, they let all the employees, rest of the patrons go.
Just the three of them.
We're setting up pole cams now.
See if we can isolate the hostage takers.
Okay, I cannot risk this witness getting killed.
We're on the same page.
Last thing we want - is to lose a hostage.
- I understand that - but this witness is different.
- We'll try to negotiate.
But if we get a clear shot, we're gonna take it.
- Ugh! - Come on.
[police radio chatter.]
[phone ringing.]
Aakif, there's a lot of cops out there.
Good! They should know we're serious.
Who killed Kanann and Shala Samra? It wasn't me.
I didn't hurt them.
Then who did? [phone ringing.]
- Should I pick it up? - No! They gave you a job.
They looked out for you.
This is how you repay them?! - You have a visual in the back window.
Are you seeing it? Copy.
I have a clear shot.
- Take it now.
- Just wait.
- [grunts.]
- Ohh! Move, move, move! [siren wailing.]
- No! Aakif, no! - Police! Let me see your hands! Ah, no! The Samras are good people! - We just wanted justice - All right, get him back here.
- Hector.
- They were gonna kill me! - Yeah, well, they didn't.
- Get him out of here.
[police radio chatter.]
[sighs.]