Shots Fired (2017) s01e04 Episode Script
Hour Four: Truth
1 Previously on "Shots Fired" Lieutenant Breeland found marijuana in his search of the vehicle.
And you sent him to get the weed.
No.
The house voted for barbecue, and Jesse, he volunteered to go get it.
Toxicology report for Jesse Carr.
No traces of marijuana in his system.
Lieutenant Breeland threatened Shameeka to keep quiet about her son's murder why? I'm just trying to get my head around why a former cop who killed an unarmed teenager and didn't get prosecuted is now working cops.
I just go after bad guys.
I think Beck's a good cop in a bad department.
We need to work both cases.
Jesse's case and Joey's.
The police union is dropping you.
They don't want to look like they condone what you said.
This correctional facility will bring thousands of jobs to this state.
This is Shawn, my youngest.
Thank you for coming to visit us, Governor.
What do you really want? I want you, Governor Eamons, to serve as well.
Cory no one's seen him.
How long's he been gone? Ever since he talked to you.
I thought you were here for Jesse Carr.
Why are you looking at Joey Campbell? (grunting) Cory? (phone buzzing) Hey.
GPS VOICE: Proceed about three-tenths of a mile to U.
S.
Route 74 East.
(distant voices on police scanner) In a quarter mile, turn left.
(faint talking) Tell him what you told me.
I was riding home on my bike after playing video games at my boy's house.
I was going fast 'cause it was 10:00 and I told my parents I'd be home by 9:00.
Then, out of nowhere, this car rolled up across the street, chasing down Joey.
It was one of them police sedans, I think.
They had him trapped against a wall and then two cops hopped out and threw him to the ground.
He was laying there screaming, "Someone call my moms! Someone call my moms!" Over and over.
I mean, at first, he sounded angry, but by the end he sounded like he was crying.
Then what happened? An older white man in, like, black military gear got out of the car with the handcuffs.
Joey was still screaming out for his moms and wouldn't let them cuff him.
Then the old man shot him.
Everything went quiet.
What happened after that? I don't know.
I got out of there as fast as I could.
Did they see you? I didn't think so.
But they tried to run me over a couple weeks after that, either 'cause they knew what I seen or either 'cause they seen me talking to you.
We've been hiding him out because we didn't know what else to do.
In Gate Station, you don't go to the cops to snitch on the cops.
Did you at least get a good look at them? Not the cops.
Just the old man.
If you saw this man again, would you recognize him? - Yeah.
- Ooh If our stars don't shine in the darkness - Where do we go from here? - Where do we go? Do we hold onto the dream regardless? Where do we go from here? This is no longer speculation.
The Sheriff's Department murdered Joey Campbell and they're trying to cover it up.
We need to call the bosses and open up the case.
- Not yet.
- What the hell are you talking about? If we go after this, we're not targeting a lone deputy who killed a white kid.
We're taking on an entire sheriff's department.
In this town, that's like trying to topple a small government.
We have to check the credibility of our witness.
We need to be patient and keep digging.
I'm done being patient.
PRESTON: We apologize for contacting you so late, sir.
I'm sure it's urgent, so let's hear it.
PRESTON: We have a 17-year-old boy who's come forward to say he's witnessed the murder of Joey Campbell.
I'm aware of the case.
How long ago was the young man killed? Six weeks ago.
And your witness suddenly found a conscience? He felt his life was in danger.
So why come forward now? His uncle brought me to him to talk.
They decided it was the right time.
What did he say? Two officers from the sheriff's department held down Joey Campbell while an older man, possibly a commander of some sort, walks over and shoots him.
Now, the witness didn't see the two officers' faces, but he's confident he'd recognize the older man.
What can you tell me about your witness? He's never been in any trouble with the law.
Is he in school? He dropped out, but he plans on returning.
African-American? Yes, sir.
In a racially divided town, an African-American dropout claims cops who he can't even identify killed a kid? Found anyone to corroborate his story? No, sir, but we find our witness highly credible.
- I'll keep it on my radar.
- On your radar, sir? That's it? Yes, Mr.
Terry, that's it.
And I'm beginning to wonder if you're having difficulties staying focused on the case you've been assigned to.
We are making progress on the Jesse Carr case, sir.
We've been working without the benefit of video or witnesses, so we've been investigating a number of possible scenarios.
- Update me by week's end.
- Yes, sir.
Um, in the meantime, we'd like to get this potential witness into protective custody.
His concern for his safety seems genuine.
I'll take that under advisement.
(faint rustling) (house alarm beeping) (gasps) - What the hell? - Shh! Shh! - Stay there.
- Boys? - Jay! - Kerry, stay right there! (alarm blaring) Stay here.
(alarm continues) We're going to have a squad car parked outside till this calms the hell down.
Thank you, sir, but I don't need all that.
I'm not asking.
We take care of our own.
Sure doesn't feel like that, sir.
Excuse me? I'm on desk duty.
The union dropped me.
And if the person who did this was outside when I came out with my gun, I would have fired, just like anyone else on the force.
But what would have happened to me then, huh? Did the neighbors see anything? No, sir.
Not a thing.
Dear Debbie, I know what's on your mind Baby, I've been treating you right Dear Debbie, I know what's on your mind Why don't we just get it out of the way? - What? - The "I told you so.
" I told you he wouldn't open an investigation based on a kid's word against an entire department.
We should have built a stronger case before going to the boss.
- I led with my heart, my bad.
- You led with your ego.
You finished? If you can't listen to the one person who has your back in all this - I got it.
- Do you? Because I need you to have my back, too.
So what now? The frat kids told you Jesse was going to the hood to buy barbecue.
But he still had marijuana in his glove compartment.
I'm gonna track down the school's weed connection.
You need to request the department's arrest records for the last three months.
- What exactly are we looking for? - I don't know.
But we'll know when we see it.
This isn't about Jesse and Joey anymore.
This is about the entire sheriff's department.
That was smooth.
You must be Brady.
Who wants to know? Get up.
Word is if you want weed on campus, you're the man to see.
But I'm not interested in busting you.
- Ask me why not.
- Why not? Because I want to know about Jesse Carr.
- What about him? - The weed that was on him the day he was killed did it come from you? Jesse wasn't into getting high.
How do you know? I kind of make it my business to know these things.
Is there someone in the hood who might be a connect for Jesse or his frat brothers? If they wanted weed, why would they go all the way to the hood for it? My stuff's as good as anyone's.
Give me a 20.
(sighs) (knocks) Mr.
Terry.
I need records for all the arrests made in this department in the last 90 days.
I don't want digitized copies; I want the original hard copies.
What is this, a fishing expedition? It's a government investigation.
I'm encouraging you to cooperate.
- It'll take a few days to assemble.
- I'll give you an hour.
Young man, you need to learn how to talk to people.
Sounds like you're saying I need to know my place.
You may not have respect for the citizens of this community.
Like it or not, you will respect me.
Your mother and I, we're taking a loan against the house.
We're gonna have enough to cover your legal fees.
Dad, no, no.
Y-You paid off your house years ago.
No, I'd rather take my chances with a public defender.
You're not going down for that white boy, just like those good ol' boys don't go down when they killed one of ours.
You say that like you think I murdered him, Pop.
I didn't mean it like that.
You know better.
I-I got to go back inside.
Love you.
Love you, boy.
Mr.
Terry.
If you have a few minutes, I'd like to show you something.
PROTESTOR: Where are you going? - (protestors shouting) - This is about Joey! (police radio beeping, chatter) (siren wailing) (siren stops) Come take a look.
License and registration.
Yeah, I got it.
What'd I do? You weren't wearing your seat belt.
And you can see that from all the way back there? You need to step out of the vehicle.
All of you.
The three of you need to turn around and put your hands behind your head.
Do it now.
Pat them down.
What? I don't have time to call for backup.
Easy.
Get your hands off me.
I said don't touch me, all right? Hey, that's my kid! Well, your dumbass kid should get some common sense.
Get up.
Finish.
Turn around.
Watch them for me.
SHERIFF: You have a permit for this firearm? Envelope in the glove box.
Look all right to you? Yeah.
(car door slams) Keep that seatbelt on.
Have a good day.
Complete waste of time.
(tires screech) What the hell is your problem? This some sort of game to you? You're the ones with the games, aren't you? You come here acting like you know everything about this town, about us? Well, maybe I know more than you think.
That feeling you just felt that scared, angry tightness in the chest that's what my deputies feel every day in the Houses.
They're policing people who hate them.
Given the chance, some of those people might hurt them.
Add that to the list of things you know.
Maybe people in the Houses wouldn't hate your deputies so much if they weren't known for killing innocent people.
Is that your personal or professional opinion? Be careful before making accusations you can't back up.
That your personal or professional advice? Welcome to Lorton Middle School, located in the plush suburbs of Gate Station, North Carolina.
I'm Shirlane Woods, and I am honored to moderate this town hall meeting where we will discuss the new Eamons Education Initiative.
Please join me in welcoming Governor Patricia Eamons.
(applause) EAMONS: Thank you! Good evening.
Thank you so much.
You all right? Kind of nervous.
You'll be fine.
Just speak your truth, okay? Governor, we'd love for you to tell us more about your initiative.
Schools like West Gate Middle School are closing down, because they've lost their accreditation.
And the people who are left to suffer are the children of that community.
Therefore, under my initiative, we will spend $3 million not only to renovate and train qualified educators at West Gate, but at four other schools in the state as well.
I want to thank Pastor Janae Jones for helping bring this crisis to my attention, along with the young man you'll be hearing from a little later.
So while we're creating a new and improved West Gate Middle School, students who attended that school will be given a choice.
Currently, they've been told to go to Jackson Junior High, 15 miles away.
This will remain an option.
However, former West Gate students will also be given the choice to attend Lorton.
(murmuring) WOODS: So you're talking about bussing kids from the Houses to this school? I'm talking about giving children an opportunity to learn in an environment without overcrowded classrooms.
This is an opportunity to bring divided communities together.
West Gate students and Lorton students will benefit from this beyond what we can measure.
Certainly the taxpayers will be able to measure the costs.
Taxpayers won't pay a cent.
My initiative is privately funded.
From whom? Arlen Cox and The Cox Group Financial.
(applause) ANNOUNCER (on radio): Paid for by Penn Moder, running for governor of North Carolina.
MODER (on radio): The safety of our children is of the utmost importance.
Once elected governor, I'll continue to work tirelessly to develop legislation like the Jess Carr "Call First" bill.
I just got back from Cory's motel.
His uncle's restless.
Cory's still scared.
I sent in another request for protective custody.
I'll let you know.
How'd it go with the college kingpin? He swears Jesse's weed wasn't from him.
I put his stash in the lab to get checked out.
So what are we doing here? I want to break down what happened the day Jesse was killed.
Get inside their heads.
You're Jesse.
All right.
Where's your head at? Well, a black RA beats me up.
My frat gives me hell and they send me to the hood for barbecue or weed or whatever, and I'm pissed.
- And you had a drink or two.
- Right, so the last thing I need is for some black cop to pull me over.
I'm the only brother in the department.
I see a white kid in the neighborhood.
Doesn't seem right.
I pull you over, ask for your license.
According to Beck, I don't comply.
Why not? Why wouldn't you comply? Because I'm too drunk.
No, if you were that drunk I would have known it.
- It would have been on my report.
- Okay.
Okay, because I know it's a bogus stop.
Racial profiling.
So I call you out on it, refuse to give you my license.
I tell you to get out of the car.
(car door opens) Then something happens and you shoot me.
Question is do you believe you did the right thing, or are you thinking of some sort of cover-up? Where's your head? I'm hoping that the life I took isn't the life of somebody good, with a future or family or friends.
I'm asking myself what the hell I could've done differently.
Then Breeland shows up, right? Finds weed in the glove compartment.
Right, um, Breeland was the first on the scene when Jesse was killed.
I found this in the police report.
"Calvert Breeland, the first on the scene to report the murder of Joey Campbell.
" - Coincidence? - Maybe not.
Maybe he's the key to us getting Joey's case opened.
That guy has a wall up.
He won't tell us anything.
His wall will come down.
We just have to get him to want to talk.
No offense to those kids who had their school shut down.
As I heard it, one of the reasons it lost its accreditation was because of rampant violence.
This is the neighborhood where that drug dealer everyone is protesting about was killed.
(audience applauding, clamoring) West Gate is being shut down because the building did not adhere to safety codes and students received low test scores.
A school with 35 to 40 students in a classroom with one teacher will always underperform.
And you can't generalize African-American students as a bunch of gangsters coming to our town.
That's ignorant and racist.
(applause) WOMAN: The fact that someone would demonize us for telling the truth is racist.
We don't care what color they are.
If those kids come to our community, we're gonna have to install metal detectors in our school.
Is that the environment we want our kids to learn in? Ma'am, you won't need a metal detector; you'll need an open mind.
- With all due respect - No, no, hold on a second.
I'm a parent, too.
I want what's best for my daughter, same as you want what's best for your child.
That's the same thing the West Gate parents want.
Governor, I will gladly go along with your plan to bring kids in from the Houses if you're willing to send your own teenage daughter to a school near the Houses.
Show us how open-minded you are.
(applause, clamoring) - WOODS: Okay, all right.
- (applause) WOODS: Okay, all right, please quiet down.
Quiet down, please.
Okay.
Just right over here, ma'am.
Can I get you anything? No, I'm fine, thank you.
Three months ago, you filed a complaint against Lieutenant Breeland.
I'm one of the few people in the neighborhood not scared of that man.
ASHE: Your complaint said that he killed your husband.
Every Sunday when me and my husband were driving to church, Breeland would pull us over for no reason, always looking for something.
This went on for about two months.
Then my husband told him enough was enough.
Breeland arrested him and threw him in jail for being non-compliant and threatening an officer.
He got out a few hours later, but a month after that, my husband died.
You know how stressful that is, being harassed all your life? A 72-year-old black man still dealing with that crap? Whatever happened with the complaint? Not a damn thing.
I'm at the kid's motel.
(gunshots) They're safe.
You know, there's a pretty cool invention you might have heard about.
It's called e-mail.
You should check it out sometime.
There's another invention called "kiss my ass.
" (laughs) Yeah, I think I heard of that one.
I was sending a letter to my daughter.
Handwritten notes are more personal.
I'll give you that.
(protestors shouting) We need a few minutes of your time.
I'm about to go on patrol.
That'll have to wait.
ASHE: How would you describe your relationship with Breeland? He's my commanding officer.
He's had three complaints filed over the last year.
What exactly do you want to know? We want to know if you think he's dirty.
No.
I don't.
But next time you want to talk, then you call my union rep.
I see your poll numbers are up among African-Americans and college-educated whites.
But your white blue-collar base seems to be favoring Penn Moder, your opponent.
I like to approach the polls with a healthy dose of cynicism.
You didn't do yourself any favors with that town hall debacle, but the boost we're gonna give this economy is gonna silence all of your critics.
Craig? As agreed to, regarding the Cox Correctional Institution, the Cox Group Financial will employ contractors, timber workers, and paper suppliers from the state of North Carolina only.
The state will also get 50% of revenues from prisoner phone cards.
In addition, the Cox Group Financial will hire 400 full-time employees.
Sounds good.
I would like to make one adjustment.
Instead of the 85% prisoner occupancy number that we have been discussing previously, I'd like the state to entertain the notion of an 88% figure.
Now, I would be agreeing to increased arrests, longer sentences, $30,000 per inmate? But you would be able to comfortably support the entire Eamons Education Wait, wait, wait, your attorney said we had a deal.
You said we had a deal.
We almost have a deal, Governor.
We're at an impasse here.
I remember when your word meant something, Arlen.
(laughs) I am a man of my word, and I gave you my word that I would help you to the utmost in your re-election bid.
(scoffs) So who is it this time? Some little old lady say I didn't get her cat out of a tree? Let's just cut to the chase, Lieutenant.
Let's go to the interview room.
I told you already, I ain't sitting in the box like a criminal for no one.
Here, then.
You're trying to build a case around me.
Why? We're just looking into some things.
Got some questions to ask.
Fire away.
You were first on the scene when Jesse was killed.
Well, technically, Beck was first on the scene.
You were also first on the scene when Joey Campbell was killed.
How do you always find yourself at the right place at the right time? It's called competent law enforcement.
Read some complaints on you.
Some would call what you do harassment and abuse of power.
Take the good with the bad.
Is that what you teach your deputies, Coach? Beck learned racial profiling from you.
News flash: profiling works on white people and on black people.
You heard some complaints against me and you want to believe that you have me all figured out.
You have no idea how many mothers and fathers come to me to thank me for keeping their kids in line.
You're actually looking at me with a straight face saying you're one of the good guys? I had a screwed up relationship with my daddy.
Hated him when I was a kid.
Calls me a few years ago, tells me he's got the cancer and he's scared to go through it all alone.
My wife begs me to be nice, so I figured, "What the hell?" So I go through it all with him, the chemo and the radiation bull.
A few months later, he dies.
For the way he treated my mother, the way he left her to raise us, I'd always thought of him as a bad guy.
Then I get to the funeral and all these people come up to me and they tell me he's the greatest guy in the world.
Tell me stories about how he's helped them, that he was the only one that was there when no one else was.
So, you see, this notion of good guys and bad guys doesn't exist for me anymore.
Perfect cop, perfect citizens to police they don't exist, either.
We don't want perfect.
We want officers to uphold the law.
You see, it don't look that way to me.
One of you looks like you're trying to make a name for yourself and the other one looks like you're trying to rid yourself of your demons.
You two wanna be good guys? You should go back to D.
C.
, chase down some crooked politicians, and let us go about the business of policing the people of Gate Station.
You don't belong here, and you never will.
Hey, guys! (officers chatter) Pastor Janae is calling again.
Is it about Arlen? She's upset about his name being involved with the Education Initiative.
She feels it's a conflict of interest.
Without his money, it doesn't happen.
Is there any other way to make the guarantee? Yeah, pull from our overcrowded state jails instead of granting early releases.
What's your opinion? I think you believe that better schools will reduce the need for more prisons.
And I think you're right.
Get Arlen Cox on the phone for me.
Lorton's got all your school records.
When you get there tomorrow, your guidance counselor will give you your class schedule.
You're not hearing me, Mom: I don't want to go to that school! It ain't open for discussion.
How's it not open for discussion? You want me to speak my truth, right? Well, I'm speaking it.
I'm not going to that white school.
Even if you put me on that bus, I'm not going to that school where everybody hates us.
You ain't got to worry about them people.
Maybe you don't, but I do! There won't be 35 kids to a classroom, everybody gonna get their own computers - I don't care about all that! - Start caring! This school gonna give you a chance.
A chance at what? Not making any friends? A chance at not ending up like your brother! I lost Joey.
I can't lose you, too.
(crying): I can't.
I can't, Shawn, please.
(crying) Please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Please I got you.
I got you.
I saw the town hall meeting online.
Yeah? What'd you think? Bad move politically, Mom, but that's what made it so cool.
Thank you, I think.
But I do think someone had a point.
Who? The lady that said you should be open-minded enough to let me go to a school by the Houses.
Yeah, that's not gonna happen.
- Why not? - For one, it's not safe.
You're such a hypocrite.
I'm not saying the people are dangerous; I'm saying the neighborhood That neighborhood is made up of people a certain kind of people.
What are you implying now, that I'm racist? Liberals can be racist, too, Mom.
This is not about color, Katie.
Your dad and I want to give you the best education that we can provide.
If I think kids like Shawn should have better schooling, why would I send my own daughter there? Because you can't keep asking people to be impatient for change while your own daughter conveniently goes to a $30,000 a year prep school.
How about we conveniently change the subject? We grow up believing In a better world Where we're free to be ourselves Like nobody else Oh, the innocence of a child The beauty of human life But this dream we once hold dear Is now controlled by fear Rosy colored glasses I see the world in all its glory today No more misery or pains Through rosy colored glasses Where all the hurt just fades away And I see a beautiful picture Yo.
That will brighten up my day - Thanks.
- Dale Johnson.
Shawn Campbell.
- Will you help me pass some of these out? - All right.
Who wants some Bulldog shirts? Got more Bulldog shirts if anyone wants one.
That will brighten up my day ASHE: Whatever the hell is going on, Breeland is in the middle of it, or he knows who is.
Well, he hasn't given us much to go on.
We're no closer to getting a case open on Joey.
Come on.
Where are we going? To follow the weed.
There are over 600 strains of marijuana in the state.
The weed that was found in Jesse's glove compartment does not match the stash from the college dealer.
But it's the same strain of marijuana found on Joey Campbell.
Even though Jesse was killed four miles away from Joey's neighborhood.
Even though they sell a totally different strain of weed over there.
- What are you saying? - I don't know.
(sighs) Jesse and Joey knew each other, or they bought weed from the same dealer, or somebody planted Joey's weed in Jesse's car.
Either way, these two cases are connected.
Are you thinking Joey Campbell and Jesse Carr were working together, selling marijuana? If they had a business like that in play, we think the sheriff's office would've discovered that by now.
What we do know is both of these cases are connected, both these boys are dead, and it feels like a police cover-up.
Open up a case on Joey Campbell.
I want to know who murdered him.
And I want to know how he and Jesse were linked.
- Yes, sir.
- Will you need extra support on this? It's a delicate situation.
Uh We think it's in the best interest of the case if just the two of us handle it.
As you wish.
Keep me posted.
And good work.
- Thank you, sir.
- Thank you.
- Yes! - Finally! This is pretty damn huge, right? We got to celebrate.
(laughs) Do you even know how? Just call me, baby Love me right Baby Ooh, I love you, girl Yeah.
I see you.
(both laughing) I'll be crawling on the floor, baby You mind if I ask you something personal? Careful, you might not like the answer you get.
Thank you.
You've been working at DOJ long enough to work any case you want.
- Why this one? - Justice calls, I answer.
I thought maybe it was because you wanted to make things right.
Make what right? You know, the night you shot that kid.
If your T.
O.
yells "gun" and he's wrong, that's on him, not you.
Not your fault.
I don't know if I'm trying to make it right or not.
I don't know.
But I think about that kid every day.
(new bluesy songs starts) Mm.
(scratching) Come on, boss.
Let me see what you got.
I don't know if I can dance to the blues.
Come on.
Get your butt out here.
SINGER: My mind goes crazy When my little woman you're all looking here at Packs up and goes You know, my mind goes crazy When my little woman packs up and goes I'm worn out, brother.
- Oh, come on, beautiful.
- Thank you.
I'm sure you ain't been worn out in a real long time.
I said thank you.
Hey, the lady said, "No thank you.
" The lady? Or your lady? All you need to know is that she ain't your lady, so step.
Step? See, that's how little boys get in trouble, sticking their nose in grown man business, boy.
You about to find out how much of a man he is and how much of a bitch you are.
Yo, I ain't realize your chick was that damn crazy, man.
Come on, bro.
(laughing) You're crazy.
Baby, you know I love to have really met you, baby Anyway, settle in You know, that was a yoked-ass dude you were about to fight.
What, you don't think I can handle myself? I wouldn't want you to mess up that baby face of yours.
Like you said, you need to know I have your back.
And now I do.
We done good today.
We did.
(keycard beeps) So, I'll see you in the morning? Yeah.
First thing.
Take control, take a hold of my soul Hey, y'all I think I sold my soul to the devil (sighs) (applause, clamoring) Even in the darkest night, there is a truth.
CROWD: Yes! When your friends, your allies, - they forsake you - (door opens) (crowd quiets down) You're welcome to join us.
(crowd clamoring) (applause) When your friends and allies forsake you, there is a truth.
If you don't say it, it may not be said.
But as long as you have the courage to face it, as long as you have the courage to tell it, as long as you have the courage to live it, the truth will prevail.
(crowd cheering, clamoring)
And you sent him to get the weed.
No.
The house voted for barbecue, and Jesse, he volunteered to go get it.
Toxicology report for Jesse Carr.
No traces of marijuana in his system.
Lieutenant Breeland threatened Shameeka to keep quiet about her son's murder why? I'm just trying to get my head around why a former cop who killed an unarmed teenager and didn't get prosecuted is now working cops.
I just go after bad guys.
I think Beck's a good cop in a bad department.
We need to work both cases.
Jesse's case and Joey's.
The police union is dropping you.
They don't want to look like they condone what you said.
This correctional facility will bring thousands of jobs to this state.
This is Shawn, my youngest.
Thank you for coming to visit us, Governor.
What do you really want? I want you, Governor Eamons, to serve as well.
Cory no one's seen him.
How long's he been gone? Ever since he talked to you.
I thought you were here for Jesse Carr.
Why are you looking at Joey Campbell? (grunting) Cory? (phone buzzing) Hey.
GPS VOICE: Proceed about three-tenths of a mile to U.
S.
Route 74 East.
(distant voices on police scanner) In a quarter mile, turn left.
(faint talking) Tell him what you told me.
I was riding home on my bike after playing video games at my boy's house.
I was going fast 'cause it was 10:00 and I told my parents I'd be home by 9:00.
Then, out of nowhere, this car rolled up across the street, chasing down Joey.
It was one of them police sedans, I think.
They had him trapped against a wall and then two cops hopped out and threw him to the ground.
He was laying there screaming, "Someone call my moms! Someone call my moms!" Over and over.
I mean, at first, he sounded angry, but by the end he sounded like he was crying.
Then what happened? An older white man in, like, black military gear got out of the car with the handcuffs.
Joey was still screaming out for his moms and wouldn't let them cuff him.
Then the old man shot him.
Everything went quiet.
What happened after that? I don't know.
I got out of there as fast as I could.
Did they see you? I didn't think so.
But they tried to run me over a couple weeks after that, either 'cause they knew what I seen or either 'cause they seen me talking to you.
We've been hiding him out because we didn't know what else to do.
In Gate Station, you don't go to the cops to snitch on the cops.
Did you at least get a good look at them? Not the cops.
Just the old man.
If you saw this man again, would you recognize him? - Yeah.
- Ooh If our stars don't shine in the darkness - Where do we go from here? - Where do we go? Do we hold onto the dream regardless? Where do we go from here? This is no longer speculation.
The Sheriff's Department murdered Joey Campbell and they're trying to cover it up.
We need to call the bosses and open up the case.
- Not yet.
- What the hell are you talking about? If we go after this, we're not targeting a lone deputy who killed a white kid.
We're taking on an entire sheriff's department.
In this town, that's like trying to topple a small government.
We have to check the credibility of our witness.
We need to be patient and keep digging.
I'm done being patient.
PRESTON: We apologize for contacting you so late, sir.
I'm sure it's urgent, so let's hear it.
PRESTON: We have a 17-year-old boy who's come forward to say he's witnessed the murder of Joey Campbell.
I'm aware of the case.
How long ago was the young man killed? Six weeks ago.
And your witness suddenly found a conscience? He felt his life was in danger.
So why come forward now? His uncle brought me to him to talk.
They decided it was the right time.
What did he say? Two officers from the sheriff's department held down Joey Campbell while an older man, possibly a commander of some sort, walks over and shoots him.
Now, the witness didn't see the two officers' faces, but he's confident he'd recognize the older man.
What can you tell me about your witness? He's never been in any trouble with the law.
Is he in school? He dropped out, but he plans on returning.
African-American? Yes, sir.
In a racially divided town, an African-American dropout claims cops who he can't even identify killed a kid? Found anyone to corroborate his story? No, sir, but we find our witness highly credible.
- I'll keep it on my radar.
- On your radar, sir? That's it? Yes, Mr.
Terry, that's it.
And I'm beginning to wonder if you're having difficulties staying focused on the case you've been assigned to.
We are making progress on the Jesse Carr case, sir.
We've been working without the benefit of video or witnesses, so we've been investigating a number of possible scenarios.
- Update me by week's end.
- Yes, sir.
Um, in the meantime, we'd like to get this potential witness into protective custody.
His concern for his safety seems genuine.
I'll take that under advisement.
(faint rustling) (house alarm beeping) (gasps) - What the hell? - Shh! Shh! - Stay there.
- Boys? - Jay! - Kerry, stay right there! (alarm blaring) Stay here.
(alarm continues) We're going to have a squad car parked outside till this calms the hell down.
Thank you, sir, but I don't need all that.
I'm not asking.
We take care of our own.
Sure doesn't feel like that, sir.
Excuse me? I'm on desk duty.
The union dropped me.
And if the person who did this was outside when I came out with my gun, I would have fired, just like anyone else on the force.
But what would have happened to me then, huh? Did the neighbors see anything? No, sir.
Not a thing.
Dear Debbie, I know what's on your mind Baby, I've been treating you right Dear Debbie, I know what's on your mind Why don't we just get it out of the way? - What? - The "I told you so.
" I told you he wouldn't open an investigation based on a kid's word against an entire department.
We should have built a stronger case before going to the boss.
- I led with my heart, my bad.
- You led with your ego.
You finished? If you can't listen to the one person who has your back in all this - I got it.
- Do you? Because I need you to have my back, too.
So what now? The frat kids told you Jesse was going to the hood to buy barbecue.
But he still had marijuana in his glove compartment.
I'm gonna track down the school's weed connection.
You need to request the department's arrest records for the last three months.
- What exactly are we looking for? - I don't know.
But we'll know when we see it.
This isn't about Jesse and Joey anymore.
This is about the entire sheriff's department.
That was smooth.
You must be Brady.
Who wants to know? Get up.
Word is if you want weed on campus, you're the man to see.
But I'm not interested in busting you.
- Ask me why not.
- Why not? Because I want to know about Jesse Carr.
- What about him? - The weed that was on him the day he was killed did it come from you? Jesse wasn't into getting high.
How do you know? I kind of make it my business to know these things.
Is there someone in the hood who might be a connect for Jesse or his frat brothers? If they wanted weed, why would they go all the way to the hood for it? My stuff's as good as anyone's.
Give me a 20.
(sighs) (knocks) Mr.
Terry.
I need records for all the arrests made in this department in the last 90 days.
I don't want digitized copies; I want the original hard copies.
What is this, a fishing expedition? It's a government investigation.
I'm encouraging you to cooperate.
- It'll take a few days to assemble.
- I'll give you an hour.
Young man, you need to learn how to talk to people.
Sounds like you're saying I need to know my place.
You may not have respect for the citizens of this community.
Like it or not, you will respect me.
Your mother and I, we're taking a loan against the house.
We're gonna have enough to cover your legal fees.
Dad, no, no.
Y-You paid off your house years ago.
No, I'd rather take my chances with a public defender.
You're not going down for that white boy, just like those good ol' boys don't go down when they killed one of ours.
You say that like you think I murdered him, Pop.
I didn't mean it like that.
You know better.
I-I got to go back inside.
Love you.
Love you, boy.
Mr.
Terry.
If you have a few minutes, I'd like to show you something.
PROTESTOR: Where are you going? - (protestors shouting) - This is about Joey! (police radio beeping, chatter) (siren wailing) (siren stops) Come take a look.
License and registration.
Yeah, I got it.
What'd I do? You weren't wearing your seat belt.
And you can see that from all the way back there? You need to step out of the vehicle.
All of you.
The three of you need to turn around and put your hands behind your head.
Do it now.
Pat them down.
What? I don't have time to call for backup.
Easy.
Get your hands off me.
I said don't touch me, all right? Hey, that's my kid! Well, your dumbass kid should get some common sense.
Get up.
Finish.
Turn around.
Watch them for me.
SHERIFF: You have a permit for this firearm? Envelope in the glove box.
Look all right to you? Yeah.
(car door slams) Keep that seatbelt on.
Have a good day.
Complete waste of time.
(tires screech) What the hell is your problem? This some sort of game to you? You're the ones with the games, aren't you? You come here acting like you know everything about this town, about us? Well, maybe I know more than you think.
That feeling you just felt that scared, angry tightness in the chest that's what my deputies feel every day in the Houses.
They're policing people who hate them.
Given the chance, some of those people might hurt them.
Add that to the list of things you know.
Maybe people in the Houses wouldn't hate your deputies so much if they weren't known for killing innocent people.
Is that your personal or professional opinion? Be careful before making accusations you can't back up.
That your personal or professional advice? Welcome to Lorton Middle School, located in the plush suburbs of Gate Station, North Carolina.
I'm Shirlane Woods, and I am honored to moderate this town hall meeting where we will discuss the new Eamons Education Initiative.
Please join me in welcoming Governor Patricia Eamons.
(applause) EAMONS: Thank you! Good evening.
Thank you so much.
You all right? Kind of nervous.
You'll be fine.
Just speak your truth, okay? Governor, we'd love for you to tell us more about your initiative.
Schools like West Gate Middle School are closing down, because they've lost their accreditation.
And the people who are left to suffer are the children of that community.
Therefore, under my initiative, we will spend $3 million not only to renovate and train qualified educators at West Gate, but at four other schools in the state as well.
I want to thank Pastor Janae Jones for helping bring this crisis to my attention, along with the young man you'll be hearing from a little later.
So while we're creating a new and improved West Gate Middle School, students who attended that school will be given a choice.
Currently, they've been told to go to Jackson Junior High, 15 miles away.
This will remain an option.
However, former West Gate students will also be given the choice to attend Lorton.
(murmuring) WOODS: So you're talking about bussing kids from the Houses to this school? I'm talking about giving children an opportunity to learn in an environment without overcrowded classrooms.
This is an opportunity to bring divided communities together.
West Gate students and Lorton students will benefit from this beyond what we can measure.
Certainly the taxpayers will be able to measure the costs.
Taxpayers won't pay a cent.
My initiative is privately funded.
From whom? Arlen Cox and The Cox Group Financial.
(applause) ANNOUNCER (on radio): Paid for by Penn Moder, running for governor of North Carolina.
MODER (on radio): The safety of our children is of the utmost importance.
Once elected governor, I'll continue to work tirelessly to develop legislation like the Jess Carr "Call First" bill.
I just got back from Cory's motel.
His uncle's restless.
Cory's still scared.
I sent in another request for protective custody.
I'll let you know.
How'd it go with the college kingpin? He swears Jesse's weed wasn't from him.
I put his stash in the lab to get checked out.
So what are we doing here? I want to break down what happened the day Jesse was killed.
Get inside their heads.
You're Jesse.
All right.
Where's your head at? Well, a black RA beats me up.
My frat gives me hell and they send me to the hood for barbecue or weed or whatever, and I'm pissed.
- And you had a drink or two.
- Right, so the last thing I need is for some black cop to pull me over.
I'm the only brother in the department.
I see a white kid in the neighborhood.
Doesn't seem right.
I pull you over, ask for your license.
According to Beck, I don't comply.
Why not? Why wouldn't you comply? Because I'm too drunk.
No, if you were that drunk I would have known it.
- It would have been on my report.
- Okay.
Okay, because I know it's a bogus stop.
Racial profiling.
So I call you out on it, refuse to give you my license.
I tell you to get out of the car.
(car door opens) Then something happens and you shoot me.
Question is do you believe you did the right thing, or are you thinking of some sort of cover-up? Where's your head? I'm hoping that the life I took isn't the life of somebody good, with a future or family or friends.
I'm asking myself what the hell I could've done differently.
Then Breeland shows up, right? Finds weed in the glove compartment.
Right, um, Breeland was the first on the scene when Jesse was killed.
I found this in the police report.
"Calvert Breeland, the first on the scene to report the murder of Joey Campbell.
" - Coincidence? - Maybe not.
Maybe he's the key to us getting Joey's case opened.
That guy has a wall up.
He won't tell us anything.
His wall will come down.
We just have to get him to want to talk.
No offense to those kids who had their school shut down.
As I heard it, one of the reasons it lost its accreditation was because of rampant violence.
This is the neighborhood where that drug dealer everyone is protesting about was killed.
(audience applauding, clamoring) West Gate is being shut down because the building did not adhere to safety codes and students received low test scores.
A school with 35 to 40 students in a classroom with one teacher will always underperform.
And you can't generalize African-American students as a bunch of gangsters coming to our town.
That's ignorant and racist.
(applause) WOMAN: The fact that someone would demonize us for telling the truth is racist.
We don't care what color they are.
If those kids come to our community, we're gonna have to install metal detectors in our school.
Is that the environment we want our kids to learn in? Ma'am, you won't need a metal detector; you'll need an open mind.
- With all due respect - No, no, hold on a second.
I'm a parent, too.
I want what's best for my daughter, same as you want what's best for your child.
That's the same thing the West Gate parents want.
Governor, I will gladly go along with your plan to bring kids in from the Houses if you're willing to send your own teenage daughter to a school near the Houses.
Show us how open-minded you are.
(applause, clamoring) - WOODS: Okay, all right.
- (applause) WOODS: Okay, all right, please quiet down.
Quiet down, please.
Okay.
Just right over here, ma'am.
Can I get you anything? No, I'm fine, thank you.
Three months ago, you filed a complaint against Lieutenant Breeland.
I'm one of the few people in the neighborhood not scared of that man.
ASHE: Your complaint said that he killed your husband.
Every Sunday when me and my husband were driving to church, Breeland would pull us over for no reason, always looking for something.
This went on for about two months.
Then my husband told him enough was enough.
Breeland arrested him and threw him in jail for being non-compliant and threatening an officer.
He got out a few hours later, but a month after that, my husband died.
You know how stressful that is, being harassed all your life? A 72-year-old black man still dealing with that crap? Whatever happened with the complaint? Not a damn thing.
I'm at the kid's motel.
(gunshots) They're safe.
You know, there's a pretty cool invention you might have heard about.
It's called e-mail.
You should check it out sometime.
There's another invention called "kiss my ass.
" (laughs) Yeah, I think I heard of that one.
I was sending a letter to my daughter.
Handwritten notes are more personal.
I'll give you that.
(protestors shouting) We need a few minutes of your time.
I'm about to go on patrol.
That'll have to wait.
ASHE: How would you describe your relationship with Breeland? He's my commanding officer.
He's had three complaints filed over the last year.
What exactly do you want to know? We want to know if you think he's dirty.
No.
I don't.
But next time you want to talk, then you call my union rep.
I see your poll numbers are up among African-Americans and college-educated whites.
But your white blue-collar base seems to be favoring Penn Moder, your opponent.
I like to approach the polls with a healthy dose of cynicism.
You didn't do yourself any favors with that town hall debacle, but the boost we're gonna give this economy is gonna silence all of your critics.
Craig? As agreed to, regarding the Cox Correctional Institution, the Cox Group Financial will employ contractors, timber workers, and paper suppliers from the state of North Carolina only.
The state will also get 50% of revenues from prisoner phone cards.
In addition, the Cox Group Financial will hire 400 full-time employees.
Sounds good.
I would like to make one adjustment.
Instead of the 85% prisoner occupancy number that we have been discussing previously, I'd like the state to entertain the notion of an 88% figure.
Now, I would be agreeing to increased arrests, longer sentences, $30,000 per inmate? But you would be able to comfortably support the entire Eamons Education Wait, wait, wait, your attorney said we had a deal.
You said we had a deal.
We almost have a deal, Governor.
We're at an impasse here.
I remember when your word meant something, Arlen.
(laughs) I am a man of my word, and I gave you my word that I would help you to the utmost in your re-election bid.
(scoffs) So who is it this time? Some little old lady say I didn't get her cat out of a tree? Let's just cut to the chase, Lieutenant.
Let's go to the interview room.
I told you already, I ain't sitting in the box like a criminal for no one.
Here, then.
You're trying to build a case around me.
Why? We're just looking into some things.
Got some questions to ask.
Fire away.
You were first on the scene when Jesse was killed.
Well, technically, Beck was first on the scene.
You were also first on the scene when Joey Campbell was killed.
How do you always find yourself at the right place at the right time? It's called competent law enforcement.
Read some complaints on you.
Some would call what you do harassment and abuse of power.
Take the good with the bad.
Is that what you teach your deputies, Coach? Beck learned racial profiling from you.
News flash: profiling works on white people and on black people.
You heard some complaints against me and you want to believe that you have me all figured out.
You have no idea how many mothers and fathers come to me to thank me for keeping their kids in line.
You're actually looking at me with a straight face saying you're one of the good guys? I had a screwed up relationship with my daddy.
Hated him when I was a kid.
Calls me a few years ago, tells me he's got the cancer and he's scared to go through it all alone.
My wife begs me to be nice, so I figured, "What the hell?" So I go through it all with him, the chemo and the radiation bull.
A few months later, he dies.
For the way he treated my mother, the way he left her to raise us, I'd always thought of him as a bad guy.
Then I get to the funeral and all these people come up to me and they tell me he's the greatest guy in the world.
Tell me stories about how he's helped them, that he was the only one that was there when no one else was.
So, you see, this notion of good guys and bad guys doesn't exist for me anymore.
Perfect cop, perfect citizens to police they don't exist, either.
We don't want perfect.
We want officers to uphold the law.
You see, it don't look that way to me.
One of you looks like you're trying to make a name for yourself and the other one looks like you're trying to rid yourself of your demons.
You two wanna be good guys? You should go back to D.
C.
, chase down some crooked politicians, and let us go about the business of policing the people of Gate Station.
You don't belong here, and you never will.
Hey, guys! (officers chatter) Pastor Janae is calling again.
Is it about Arlen? She's upset about his name being involved with the Education Initiative.
She feels it's a conflict of interest.
Without his money, it doesn't happen.
Is there any other way to make the guarantee? Yeah, pull from our overcrowded state jails instead of granting early releases.
What's your opinion? I think you believe that better schools will reduce the need for more prisons.
And I think you're right.
Get Arlen Cox on the phone for me.
Lorton's got all your school records.
When you get there tomorrow, your guidance counselor will give you your class schedule.
You're not hearing me, Mom: I don't want to go to that school! It ain't open for discussion.
How's it not open for discussion? You want me to speak my truth, right? Well, I'm speaking it.
I'm not going to that white school.
Even if you put me on that bus, I'm not going to that school where everybody hates us.
You ain't got to worry about them people.
Maybe you don't, but I do! There won't be 35 kids to a classroom, everybody gonna get their own computers - I don't care about all that! - Start caring! This school gonna give you a chance.
A chance at what? Not making any friends? A chance at not ending up like your brother! I lost Joey.
I can't lose you, too.
(crying): I can't.
I can't, Shawn, please.
(crying) Please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Please I got you.
I got you.
I saw the town hall meeting online.
Yeah? What'd you think? Bad move politically, Mom, but that's what made it so cool.
Thank you, I think.
But I do think someone had a point.
Who? The lady that said you should be open-minded enough to let me go to a school by the Houses.
Yeah, that's not gonna happen.
- Why not? - For one, it's not safe.
You're such a hypocrite.
I'm not saying the people are dangerous; I'm saying the neighborhood That neighborhood is made up of people a certain kind of people.
What are you implying now, that I'm racist? Liberals can be racist, too, Mom.
This is not about color, Katie.
Your dad and I want to give you the best education that we can provide.
If I think kids like Shawn should have better schooling, why would I send my own daughter there? Because you can't keep asking people to be impatient for change while your own daughter conveniently goes to a $30,000 a year prep school.
How about we conveniently change the subject? We grow up believing In a better world Where we're free to be ourselves Like nobody else Oh, the innocence of a child The beauty of human life But this dream we once hold dear Is now controlled by fear Rosy colored glasses I see the world in all its glory today No more misery or pains Through rosy colored glasses Where all the hurt just fades away And I see a beautiful picture Yo.
That will brighten up my day - Thanks.
- Dale Johnson.
Shawn Campbell.
- Will you help me pass some of these out? - All right.
Who wants some Bulldog shirts? Got more Bulldog shirts if anyone wants one.
That will brighten up my day ASHE: Whatever the hell is going on, Breeland is in the middle of it, or he knows who is.
Well, he hasn't given us much to go on.
We're no closer to getting a case open on Joey.
Come on.
Where are we going? To follow the weed.
There are over 600 strains of marijuana in the state.
The weed that was found in Jesse's glove compartment does not match the stash from the college dealer.
But it's the same strain of marijuana found on Joey Campbell.
Even though Jesse was killed four miles away from Joey's neighborhood.
Even though they sell a totally different strain of weed over there.
- What are you saying? - I don't know.
(sighs) Jesse and Joey knew each other, or they bought weed from the same dealer, or somebody planted Joey's weed in Jesse's car.
Either way, these two cases are connected.
Are you thinking Joey Campbell and Jesse Carr were working together, selling marijuana? If they had a business like that in play, we think the sheriff's office would've discovered that by now.
What we do know is both of these cases are connected, both these boys are dead, and it feels like a police cover-up.
Open up a case on Joey Campbell.
I want to know who murdered him.
And I want to know how he and Jesse were linked.
- Yes, sir.
- Will you need extra support on this? It's a delicate situation.
Uh We think it's in the best interest of the case if just the two of us handle it.
As you wish.
Keep me posted.
And good work.
- Thank you, sir.
- Thank you.
- Yes! - Finally! This is pretty damn huge, right? We got to celebrate.
(laughs) Do you even know how? Just call me, baby Love me right Baby Ooh, I love you, girl Yeah.
I see you.
(both laughing) I'll be crawling on the floor, baby You mind if I ask you something personal? Careful, you might not like the answer you get.
Thank you.
You've been working at DOJ long enough to work any case you want.
- Why this one? - Justice calls, I answer.
I thought maybe it was because you wanted to make things right.
Make what right? You know, the night you shot that kid.
If your T.
O.
yells "gun" and he's wrong, that's on him, not you.
Not your fault.
I don't know if I'm trying to make it right or not.
I don't know.
But I think about that kid every day.
(new bluesy songs starts) Mm.
(scratching) Come on, boss.
Let me see what you got.
I don't know if I can dance to the blues.
Come on.
Get your butt out here.
SINGER: My mind goes crazy When my little woman you're all looking here at Packs up and goes You know, my mind goes crazy When my little woman packs up and goes I'm worn out, brother.
- Oh, come on, beautiful.
- Thank you.
I'm sure you ain't been worn out in a real long time.
I said thank you.
Hey, the lady said, "No thank you.
" The lady? Or your lady? All you need to know is that she ain't your lady, so step.
Step? See, that's how little boys get in trouble, sticking their nose in grown man business, boy.
You about to find out how much of a man he is and how much of a bitch you are.
Yo, I ain't realize your chick was that damn crazy, man.
Come on, bro.
(laughing) You're crazy.
Baby, you know I love to have really met you, baby Anyway, settle in You know, that was a yoked-ass dude you were about to fight.
What, you don't think I can handle myself? I wouldn't want you to mess up that baby face of yours.
Like you said, you need to know I have your back.
And now I do.
We done good today.
We did.
(keycard beeps) So, I'll see you in the morning? Yeah.
First thing.
Take control, take a hold of my soul Hey, y'all I think I sold my soul to the devil (sighs) (applause, clamoring) Even in the darkest night, there is a truth.
CROWD: Yes! When your friends, your allies, - they forsake you - (door opens) (crowd quiets down) You're welcome to join us.
(crowd clamoring) (applause) When your friends and allies forsake you, there is a truth.
If you don't say it, it may not be said.
But as long as you have the courage to face it, as long as you have the courage to tell it, as long as you have the courage to live it, the truth will prevail.
(crowd cheering, clamoring)