The Closer s01e04 Episode Script
Show Yourself
Did you know these three guys who were murdered? Payaso, Big Mousy, and Little Mousy.
Little Mousy was my future.
Did you belong to him? I was going to.
They were just here to kick it, you know? Had a 40, smoked some good motta before he left.
About what time was that? Little Mousy got home from "The Mint" at like 11:00 De la mañana.
Callate, callate, Shy Girl.
Vete a la casa.
You're new, ese.
I'm putting in work six months, vato.
Oh yeah? You got your stripes? Chavala.
Park used to be mine, homey.
Sanchez.
I heard of you.
Guero.
Little Mousy was one of my brothers.
Mi sangre.
I'm gonna kill the next Joker I see, homes.
Calmate.
These Jokers are gonna pay big time, homes! Ok, Tao, can you read that? "Trust no bitch.
" Well,at least he's not afraid to be up-front with his feelings.
Sanchez, who were the dead ones dating? Plenty of those women switch sides.
Now our blood is all over.
Those bitches They done with you guys? We don't keep no 'hood rats, homes.
No? It's going down.
Tranquilo.
The bullets weren't sprayed.
Each victim died from a single shot to the t-zone.
Too bad he only got 3 of 'em.
We should give this killer a medal for cleaning up the neighborhood.
Why is priority homicide here? I guess triple murder's our automatic invitation.
These are not priority murders.
Where's Scarlett O'Hara? The only thing she got out of our homies here were different ways they'd like to do her.
- She's in the van.
- Van? Good.
We should process all our crime scenes this way.
Come on.
You can buy me a cup of coffee.
Come in.
Department of sanitation's all done.
Can we release the scene? Sounds good to me.
Thanks.
Can we clean up a little bit in here? This place is a mess.
Sorry.
Excuse me, sir.
May I help you? Depends on who you are.
Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson.
Colonel D.
B.
Walter United States Marine Corps, retired.
May I help you? Do you have any witnesses? Why are you here, sir? How many shots were fired? I asked why you were here? The shooting start about 8:00 last night? Let's get one thing straight.
This is not the place of your questions.
This is the place of my questions.
Let's get one thing straight.
I'm not answering any of your questions unless you answer mine.
It's a serious matter to withhold material information About a homicide, Colonel Walter.
I'm not withholding any material information, madam.
It's just my opinion.
Would you like to hear it? Yes, I would.
In my opinion, the shooter was on the roof of the Park Plaza hotel.
Now, you may not believe me 'Cause you're not gonna find any casings up there.
Now I'll answer your next question.
How do I know that? In my opinion, We're not dealing with an ordinary shooter.
We're dealing with a sniper, And snipers are trained to be invisible.
I think I can help you find him.
And how could you do that? I think I was his first instructor.
Do you know his name? No but he's my son.
And you don't know his name? I haven't seen or heard from my son in over a year.
I thought he was dead until all these killings started.
- There have been more than these? - Yes.
Now back to my opinion.
I think if we work together, we can stop him, But you've got to keep my opinion about the sniper away from the press, otherwise, we both lose control of this case.
I don't make deals with someone I just met on a crime scene.
Get to know me.
Trees block the view of the park from over there, And that roof offers no protection.
Good eye, Chief.
Good eye.
This cobweb's broken, But there's no cigarette butts.
No marks in the gravel, either.
Yeah, well, not even Mr.
nobody leaves nothing behind.
I want this entire roof processed by S.
I.
D.
You got it, madam.
How'd you know to come up to this roof? Lucky guess.
The only way up here's through the building.
See if they've got security tapes.
Looks like a good place to shoot from.
I don't think you're the first person to think of that.
That's little mousy in the center, Big mousy on the left, Payoso on the right.
Payaso.
Ok.
The shooter waited until he had protection of the night.
As you can see they had time to be afraid.
All right.
Can we hit the lights, please? bullet fragments were found.
They leave small entrance wounds, And grapefruit-sized exit wounds.
Detective Sanchez, how many sharpshooters did you see During your years on the gang intelligence team? None.
Ok.
Will you show us the lay of the land please? All right.
Our victims: Big mousy, Little mousy, Payaso.
"Clown"? These were not veteranos, But they weren't just jumped in, either.
They were in the middle management of the E/S 14, Which means "East Side Catorce.
" It's a latino gang, And they claim the blocks from 14th street Up to Wilshire Boulevard.
MacArthur Park is where their turf Overlaps into another gang, L.
A.
Jokers.
Now, both gangs are similar.
The both deal coke, rock, and H.
Most recently, they both branched out into firearms.
So they'd have no trouble getting a gun? No, no one would.
I mean, an H-S Precision Pro 2000's the most popular rifle used by S.
W.
A.
T.
It's also available on the internet.
But there's no one in the Jokers or neither of these gangs that can shoot like this.
No new guys, no old guys.
So there's a sniper on the loose.
That's one way of saying it.
Any luck with those surveillance tapes? The Park Plaza hotel had a cooking convention in the lobby yesterday.
There was a lot of people there.
A lot.
All right, lieutenant Flynn, Could you check out those tapes for me, please, And, uh, see if any faces pop out at you? We're looking for someone with military or police training Who also has a record.
Lieutenant Provenza can help you.
Lieutenant Tao and sergeant Gabriel, Even though I think it was picked up on the streets, Could you check and see who's bought a sniper rifle in the last year? That's internet and retail.
Press conference.
Sanchez, I want you to do it.
Do you want me to do it in español? Couldn't hurt.
Come on.
Uh, will, can I talk to you for just a second? Hola.
Soy detectivo Sanchez.
Estoy aqui para explicar que paso en el parque.
If you go on the air and tell Los Angeles to be on the lookout for a sniper, it'll be D.
C.
all over again.
People won't get out of their cars to get gas.
All right, well, the press already assumes it's a gang shooting, So does it help you to have them continue thinking that? Well, but the East Side Catorces Are gonna retaliate against the Jokers.
You can't have it both ways, Brenda.
Make the call.
Ok.
Ok.
"Gang violence escalates.
" Ok.
That's Shorty you have there.
It wasn't an important murder at the time.
Single vic, gang territory.
What about this one? Topo? Same deal.
What is that perfume? I'm not wearing any.
Why? Do I smell? Yes but good.
We didn't find casings or bullets at either scene.
The casings I can't explain, But the bullets have such velocity, They either disintegrate on contact or go through the head and deep into whatever's behind the target.
What about your shampoo? I don't know.
It was on sale.
Using my homicide analyst again, I see.
Captain Taylor, these 2 gang killings Which 2? Gang killings account for 60% of the homicides in this city.
East Side Catorces? Only happened last month.
Single bullet to the head.
Catorce gets shot, it usually means he's done something worse than the Joker who shot him.
It's a two-fer.
Garbage in, garbage out.
Would you be saying this if the victims were black? I can go.
No.
Yes.
No! These poor, misunderstood youths, They kill cops.
So when they turn up dead, I don't see black, brown, yellow, or white.
The only color I see is blue.
This gang thing didn't start because of the police, And it won't end because of the police.
We just contain it.
So investigating these murders is a waste of time? How you allocate your resources is up to you, chief.
I was glad to get your call, Glad you kept the press out of this.
You know what you're doing here.
I know the esteem policewomen hold in the military.
It's pretty gutsy of you to ask a woman for help.
Your reputation canceled out the agenda.
Your father was a captain in the army.
You know the drill.
Well, I got to know you, too, a little as well Colonel.
Your most famous shot was from a moving boat on the Mekong Delta.
You blew off the head of an enemy sniper from 900 yards.
You had 72 confirmed kills in Vietnam.
That's 9 short of the record.
So you have my military file.
Yeah, it was a big help, So I googled you.
And you have my son's file as well.
Master gunnery sergeant D.
B.
Walter Junior, Was in a sniper unit as part of the invasion of Afghanistan, And in spring 2003, he was sent home Because? His wife was a social worker Killed by a stray bullet Shot by an East Side Catorce.
Her name was Donna.
Wonderful girl.
Wonderful.
Is her case still open? Yes.
Still interested in my opinion? Aaa.
.
very.
- That's why my son is doing this.
You people can't find who killed her and he's not gonna stop until every East Side Catorce is dead.
This happened in spring 2003.
What took your son so long to seek revenge? He thought the L.
A.
P.
D.
Was gonna do its job.
He waited, and nothing happened.
Last christmas, he walked out of the house and never came home, set out to start his own war.
Tell me how you can help me.
You're not gonna find my son on your own.
He's behind enemy lines, disguised within the community.
I can tell you how he thinks.
I want your son's uncensored military records.
I need a list of every known East Side Catorce, Names and addresses.
I want your records, too.
Only if I give you the lists? What do you hope to get from helping me? My wife died 14 years ago, And you know how it is.
Move from post to post, base to base.
Family becomes everything.
My boy is all I've got left.
I have a feeling if I'm there when you find him, we'll be able to take him alive.
So partners then? Partners.
Well, I know you can talk.
I need your help.
Again? Does this face look familiar? His wife was killed, spring 2003.
She was a social worker checking on a foster kid when she was hit by stray bullets.
I remember the case.
What was her last name again? Walter? No, I don't think so.
It was Quinn.
Donna Quinn.
She kept her maiden name.
There she is.
She was beautiful.
Looks like we interviewed several East Side Catorces, but Nothing.
Nada.
And her husband came to see you? Yeah.
He, uh, wanted to know why we weren't doing more.
We offered a reward, set up a tip line, recanvassed the neighborhood.
I How did he act? Was he angry? Did he lash out? No, no, no.
He was very calm, very respectful, Just like his father.
When did you meet his father? Oh, must have been january 2004.
Came to report his son missing.
Asked to speak only to me.
And did you look for him? We filed a missing persons report, but we never found the boy or the car he was driving.
He was licensed to carry guns many guns, And I assumed Well, he killed himself.
Suicide rate among returning vets is somewhere in the 17% range.
I looked at the father, and I thought, here's a guy who would rather believe that his son is missing than-than that the boy killed himself.
Never underestimate the power of grief.
Or the need for revenge.
Let's assume that the son is alive and he's the shooter.
What do you need? A Catorce that'll talk to me.
I told you he was gonna stop and get something to eat.
I'm still fuzzy as to why we're on him.
I'm not sure this is more fun Than the international cooking convention.
I don't know about that.
Did you see the guy selling steak knives? Which one? There were like 4 of them.
I'm talking about the one where you got this really nice butcher block.
I'm telling you, Flynn, these steak knives could cut cans.
And he had this deal where if you bought one set, you get this really nice set of dishtowels- This woman is going to drive me crazy.
Provenza here.
Hello, chief.
The colonel stopped to get a bite to eat.
Yep.
Nope.
We don't plan on losing him, ma'am.
That's why we're sitting here.
My ex-wife used to call me like that, talk to me like I was a child.
Which ex-wife was this? Number 2.
And number 4.
I forgot how annoying she was and married her twice.
Did you divorce her, or did she.
.
Don't get bogged down in technicalities.
Yeah.
Yeah, all right.
Yo, what's up, my brother? You looking to buy some blunts? Yo, where your ho at, my brotha? Cause I know you the original gangsta, yo.
I'm not your brother.
What, you don't like mexicans? Yeah, I could tell.
Watch your back, brother.
I'm taking over.
Jesus.
Yo, where'd you find this fool, man? Yeah, he come with the new job? Prolonging it won't make it any better, detective Tao.
Spill.
It seems colonel Walter evaded surveillance.
Who's colonel Walter, and why was he being surveilled? Someone the chief wanted us to follow.
Maybe I should go tell her- No, no.
She and Taylor are playing nice for a change.
Why don't we all just enjoy the moment.
What's up, yo? You mean your mommy and daddy gonna watch out for you, man? You can't slide up in here by yourself or what? Is he that other one's daddy? You know, the fool.
Hey, you look alike.
Mr.
Garcia Mr.
Garcia? Es tan bonita cuando no abre la boca Speakie spanish? Like your prison? Hey, man, I came in here because you said you were gonna make that carjacking thing go away.
We might.
Just listen.
Spring 2003 this woman, Donna Quinn, was killed.
Witnesses saw a gangster car speeding away from the house.
Man, every homie in the city's got a cutlass.
That don't mean nothing.
Your brother Martin Garcia, "Mosca" had a car like that registered to him.
All right.
Hay un hombre who was just bugging me about this.
He was bugging a couple of us.
Oh, yeah? What's he look like.
Like that one right there, Pero mas taller, Atletico.
Firme.
Do you like your men burnt? Enough talk.
You tell us who shot this woman.
I know you can speak english.
I know you speak perfectly good english.
Hey, man, bitch is dead.
Rest in peace.
We're not saying you did it, But you were there.
Nah, man.
Spring 2003? I was right in the beef.
I was in county.
Wayside, homes.
She was shot march 22.
You were released from prison 4 days before.
And the person who lived at the house where she was shot is rumored to have killed your primo.
So come on.
Must have had some payback coming.
Man, sounds like you know more about this than I do, homes.
So why you asking me all these questions? Because the Jokers didn't do the shootings in the park.
Your friends were killed by a sniper.
No way.
Same guy shot Shorty and Topo, too.
Think about it, son.
One shot to the head, each of 'em.
It was retaliation for Donna Quinn's death.
What is she talking about? Who was she having followed again? Now we don't know who's next on his list, But if that sniper wants you, he's gonna get you, Unless you tell us who killed her, And then maybe we can stop this guy.
Think of your homies.
You could save their lives, not just yours.
We can find you a new place to live.
We can get your whole family out of here in about an hour.
If you're sick of the life, this is your out.
Your abuelita's in the hospital, que no? Yeah.
She's at Good Samaritan.
She's really sick.
Oh.
Wacha.
Who's gonna take care of her when something happens to you? Man, no one even knew that black bitch was even there, man.
Homie, que pasa? Hermano, I gotta go, man.
We were just talking, right? - Am I under arrest? - No.
Please - later, Sanchez.
Wait.
Another Catorce is dead.
And who the hell is colonel Walter U.
S.
M.
C? Because Flynn and Provenza lost him.
Can I talk to you for a minute, Will? - What? - I might have made a big mistake.
I might have given a list of known Catorces to the killer.
You-you might have? Plus their addresses.
I may have led our killer to the next victim.
He lived in this building.
His street name is "Vaquero" cowboy, But I'm waiting for an I.
D.
He was killed by a- Single shot to the head.
Somebody briefed you already? How'd you get here so fast? Police scanner.
- You don't have to believe me.
- I don't.
Haven't lied to you yet.
Why would I start now? Because you found your son, or you did this.
You had me followed.
You know I didn't.
You deliberately evaded surveillance.
You paid some guy from the gas company 200 bucks To swap clothes with you.
I didn't kill him.
I am bringing you in for questioning.
Viva la Catorce! Get down! Chief? I'm fine.
This is the fallout from trusting your suspect: Including these 2 young boys.
I know.
Believe me, I know.
I've heard captain Taylor's side on this, too.
I'm sure you have.
Why were you not seriously considering the possibility that the son was dead, the colonel was the shooter? I don't know.
Well, I think I do, Because every time you see a military man, you go all weak in the knees.
Guy puts a little american flag pin on his lapel, and suddenly you think he's your daddy! All right, Will! I may have made a mistake, ok? But if we announce that we're redirecting this investigation towards the sniper, I'll lose all credibility with colonel Walter.
He'll never talk to me again.
Well, use that credibility now, Brenda, or lose it, because I'm not gonna let a gang war start just so you can get this guy to confess.
You want another crack at him, fine.
You have until the 6:00 news to break him in half.
You don't have a police scanner in your car.
So either you knew where the crime was going to take place, In which case you are not sharing information with me as you promised to do, or you're killing these Catorces yourself.
Well, if you think I did it, why don't you hold me here until the next murder.
I have no intention of waiting around for someone else to die.
We are getting to the truth of this, colonel, right now, this instant.
Either you prove to me That you had nothing to do with this, Or I walk out of here and call the F.
B.
I.
, the C.
I.
A.
and Homeland Security and tell them I have a military-trained sniper in my interview room who's using the citizens of los angeles for target practice.
How can I prove that I'm not- That is not my problem.
Ok.
Wait, wait! Wait.
Wait a minute.
Our passports, his and mine.
Going to South Africa.
Here.
I was trying to find him before you did, to get him out of the country.
My boy is not a murderer, he's a soldier.
And who is he killing? He's killing our enemies in the streets.
Meet Miguel and Luis.
They were also shot to death last night.
Why? Because they were standing next to a Joker Whom the Catorces decided to blow away In retaliation for your son's killings.
Oh, my god.
Oh, my god.
Are they our enemies, too? Or just collateral damage in your son's private war? You know I don't think like that.
I helped you.
I gave you- Useless information! Don't pretend that we were partners.
You manipulated me- I never manipulated you! I have nothing but the utmost respect for you.
Snipers are invisible, that's what you said, trained to avoid detection.
Yet you deliberately caught my attention by walking across my crime scene with a rifle scope in your hand, conned me into keeping the truth from the press, traded me meaningless military records for names and addresses of your son's potential victims.
I had to stop him, you know that.
He can be stopped.
My boy is not a monster.
We've got 3 hours left to prove that, Because then my boss calls the federal government and releases your son's photo to the press.
of this investigation.
into a full-on manhunt.
They'll kill him.
Then tell me how he's choosing his victims.
Look over the surveillance tapes that we've got from the Park Plaza hotel.
See if you can help us I.
D.
him.
Help me save your son's life.
Who is manipulating who? Ok.
I'll help you If you take me along.
Sorry.
No more negotiating.
Don't leave me behind, please.
Wait, wait, wait.
Stop the tape here.
Back it up a bit.
Hmm.
Freeze it right here.
Is it possible to see this enhanced? You got it.
Is it the mailman? No.
Sunglasses and backpack.
No.
No, that's not him.
I can only assume that my son knew the hotel so well that he was able to avoid the cameras.
So, now tell me how he's choosing his victims.
After Donna died, there was an article in the times with this photo.
It was a skateboard star who was introducing a new line of clothes, said his inspiration came from the streets.
Look how fat and happy they are.
Infuriated my son and infuriated me.
First victim, Shorty.
Next, Topo.
Little Mousy, Big Mousy, Payaso.
Vaquero.
He's going in order.
This guy is next.
His name is Hector Vasquez.
"Toker".
Ok, thank you.
No way.
A man's life is in danger.
So says your source, who's been so good at telling the truth.
Look, you are upset about- Yeah, about children getting shot.
This guy Toker spent 2 years in juvie for assaulting his mother.
I'm not getting you bodyguards to protect a gangbanger.
But my team is my team, right? Have you ever run one of these? Will you take tactical? Yeah.
You want my men in on this? How you allocate your resources is up to you, captain.
And I'd like to remind everybody That while Walter Jr.
, our sniper, has been trained by the best, he's out to get the Catorces, not us.
Um, captain Taylor has agreed to run this operation.
So, captain Taylor? She's delegating? What do you know about that? Pigs can fly.
All right, everyone, listen up.
First we'll get onto the roofs Of the surrounding buildings.
Once we are in position to cover him we will send Sanchez up to Toker's house, let him try and talk the boy into protective custody.
And if we are lucky, emphasis on lucky, while our sniper's fixated on his next target, we'll get a chance to surprise him.
We got about 45 minutes until nightfall.
Keep your talkies on, and I want to see vests on everyone, and I mean everyone.
What are we still doing here? Let's do this.
Uh, maybe it would be better If we left the O.
G.
Here, sir.
Fine with me.
You guys go get shot at, And I'll watch it on TV.
I'll meet you at the house.
I've gotten permission for you to accompany us.
No.
It's too late.
I'll wait for you here.
I promise you, sir, I will do everything in my power to bring your son in alive.
I'll drive.
What do you feel like having for dinner? Drive-through? Ok, whatever.
Sounds good.
Hey, um, will you watch the doors and see if you see a tall black man leaving? He's 6'2" and has perfect posture.
Is he coming to dinner with us? No.
This is less about dinner and more about a joint operation between the F.
B.
I.
and the L.
A.
P.
D.
Is this official? Oh, of course.
Yeah.
I'm just a little behind on my paperwork, that's all.
He's pulling out of the lot.
Could you follow him, please, and be extra careful, because he's very good at detecting surveillance.
Hello, Mr.
Howard.
The time is 7:32 pm.
Your location is 150 north Los Angeles street.
What is that? I call her Tara.
I think it's the same woman who does my voice mail.
My navigation system.
Oh.
I have got to get one of those.
I must really like you.
Usually we do this with backup, where we block off the surrounding area.
.
Can you still see him? Or, you know what I would have done? I would've put an auto-track on his car, Or a GPS homing device on the car- I could've done all that, but instead I called you.
And for that I am grateful.
Sanchez.
Sanchez, go.
What's going on? Do you think he knows he's being followed? I'm driving parallel to him, so I don't think so.
What? What's going on? I think he's winking at me.
Don't look directly at him! - Brenda - Don't look at me either! You know, when I imagined you in my back seat, This isn't exactly what I had in mind.
Captain, what's that? That's him.
All units respond, 200 block of Loma.
Grey apartment building, on the roof.
Let's move it now! F.
B.
I.
! Don't move! Stand up! Put your hands over your head now! Back up.
Hands behind your head, slowly.
On your knees.
On your knees.
Taylor.
Go.
Let me show this high-powered sniper rifle.
Taylor.
Go.
This is Sanchez.
Toker's in county.
He's been there for, like, 4 days now.
Unbelievable! Are we anywhere near Lucas avenue? We're moving away from Lucas avenue.
Wanted him to be telling me the truth.
- She set us up.
- No, she didn't.
Well, then, where is she? That's a good question.
I'll find out.
She was never planning to show.
You know, I had her all wrong.
She's an even bigger bitch than I thought she was.
Hey, it's Gabriel.
Where are you? Such a suck-up.
Yeah, well, we have a problem.
Yeah, no kidding.
Toker is in county.
Jesus said he saw the colonel talking to these guys.
He must have known.
No, I didn't know till just now.
I followed him to cover our base- Do you really think I'd send you on a wild-goose chase? Damn it.
What? What's - what's going on? The colonel lied to me.
Hey, you want me to turn around, Cause he stopped his car.
Then let me out! Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Not unless you keep your phone on.
How about that? You got me on speed dial.
Ok.
I'm gonna park the car, and I'm gonna meet you- Hey, wait! Brenda, wait! Brenda, wait for me! It wasn't the man with the sunglasses.
It was the mailman! Mailman? What mailman? What you talking about? I should've known.
I should've known! Brenda, where are you? Going into the white building across the street from the hospital.
Brenda, I'm almost there.
Wait for me.
Wait.
Hello, Fritz? Hello, Fritz? Fritz! Police.
Put your weapon down.
Put your hands in the air.
Back away from the gun.
Put your hands behind your head.
Do not turn around.
Do not turn around! Colonel Walter! Colonel Walter, show yourself! I know you're here.
Show yourself! Colonel Walter! Oh, please.
Don't leave me here.
Colonel Walter.
Colonel Walter.
Show yourself!
Little Mousy was my future.
Did you belong to him? I was going to.
They were just here to kick it, you know? Had a 40, smoked some good motta before he left.
About what time was that? Little Mousy got home from "The Mint" at like 11:00 De la mañana.
Callate, callate, Shy Girl.
Vete a la casa.
You're new, ese.
I'm putting in work six months, vato.
Oh yeah? You got your stripes? Chavala.
Park used to be mine, homey.
Sanchez.
I heard of you.
Guero.
Little Mousy was one of my brothers.
Mi sangre.
I'm gonna kill the next Joker I see, homes.
Calmate.
These Jokers are gonna pay big time, homes! Ok, Tao, can you read that? "Trust no bitch.
" Well,at least he's not afraid to be up-front with his feelings.
Sanchez, who were the dead ones dating? Plenty of those women switch sides.
Now our blood is all over.
Those bitches They done with you guys? We don't keep no 'hood rats, homes.
No? It's going down.
Tranquilo.
The bullets weren't sprayed.
Each victim died from a single shot to the t-zone.
Too bad he only got 3 of 'em.
We should give this killer a medal for cleaning up the neighborhood.
Why is priority homicide here? I guess triple murder's our automatic invitation.
These are not priority murders.
Where's Scarlett O'Hara? The only thing she got out of our homies here were different ways they'd like to do her.
- She's in the van.
- Van? Good.
We should process all our crime scenes this way.
Come on.
You can buy me a cup of coffee.
Come in.
Department of sanitation's all done.
Can we release the scene? Sounds good to me.
Thanks.
Can we clean up a little bit in here? This place is a mess.
Sorry.
Excuse me, sir.
May I help you? Depends on who you are.
Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson.
Colonel D.
B.
Walter United States Marine Corps, retired.
May I help you? Do you have any witnesses? Why are you here, sir? How many shots were fired? I asked why you were here? The shooting start about 8:00 last night? Let's get one thing straight.
This is not the place of your questions.
This is the place of my questions.
Let's get one thing straight.
I'm not answering any of your questions unless you answer mine.
It's a serious matter to withhold material information About a homicide, Colonel Walter.
I'm not withholding any material information, madam.
It's just my opinion.
Would you like to hear it? Yes, I would.
In my opinion, the shooter was on the roof of the Park Plaza hotel.
Now, you may not believe me 'Cause you're not gonna find any casings up there.
Now I'll answer your next question.
How do I know that? In my opinion, We're not dealing with an ordinary shooter.
We're dealing with a sniper, And snipers are trained to be invisible.
I think I can help you find him.
And how could you do that? I think I was his first instructor.
Do you know his name? No but he's my son.
And you don't know his name? I haven't seen or heard from my son in over a year.
I thought he was dead until all these killings started.
- There have been more than these? - Yes.
Now back to my opinion.
I think if we work together, we can stop him, But you've got to keep my opinion about the sniper away from the press, otherwise, we both lose control of this case.
I don't make deals with someone I just met on a crime scene.
Get to know me.
Trees block the view of the park from over there, And that roof offers no protection.
Good eye, Chief.
Good eye.
This cobweb's broken, But there's no cigarette butts.
No marks in the gravel, either.
Yeah, well, not even Mr.
nobody leaves nothing behind.
I want this entire roof processed by S.
I.
D.
You got it, madam.
How'd you know to come up to this roof? Lucky guess.
The only way up here's through the building.
See if they've got security tapes.
Looks like a good place to shoot from.
I don't think you're the first person to think of that.
That's little mousy in the center, Big mousy on the left, Payoso on the right.
Payaso.
Ok.
The shooter waited until he had protection of the night.
As you can see they had time to be afraid.
All right.
Can we hit the lights, please? bullet fragments were found.
They leave small entrance wounds, And grapefruit-sized exit wounds.
Detective Sanchez, how many sharpshooters did you see During your years on the gang intelligence team? None.
Ok.
Will you show us the lay of the land please? All right.
Our victims: Big mousy, Little mousy, Payaso.
"Clown"? These were not veteranos, But they weren't just jumped in, either.
They were in the middle management of the E/S 14, Which means "East Side Catorce.
" It's a latino gang, And they claim the blocks from 14th street Up to Wilshire Boulevard.
MacArthur Park is where their turf Overlaps into another gang, L.
A.
Jokers.
Now, both gangs are similar.
The both deal coke, rock, and H.
Most recently, they both branched out into firearms.
So they'd have no trouble getting a gun? No, no one would.
I mean, an H-S Precision Pro 2000's the most popular rifle used by S.
W.
A.
T.
It's also available on the internet.
But there's no one in the Jokers or neither of these gangs that can shoot like this.
No new guys, no old guys.
So there's a sniper on the loose.
That's one way of saying it.
Any luck with those surveillance tapes? The Park Plaza hotel had a cooking convention in the lobby yesterday.
There was a lot of people there.
A lot.
All right, lieutenant Flynn, Could you check out those tapes for me, please, And, uh, see if any faces pop out at you? We're looking for someone with military or police training Who also has a record.
Lieutenant Provenza can help you.
Lieutenant Tao and sergeant Gabriel, Even though I think it was picked up on the streets, Could you check and see who's bought a sniper rifle in the last year? That's internet and retail.
Press conference.
Sanchez, I want you to do it.
Do you want me to do it in español? Couldn't hurt.
Come on.
Uh, will, can I talk to you for just a second? Hola.
Soy detectivo Sanchez.
Estoy aqui para explicar que paso en el parque.
If you go on the air and tell Los Angeles to be on the lookout for a sniper, it'll be D.
C.
all over again.
People won't get out of their cars to get gas.
All right, well, the press already assumes it's a gang shooting, So does it help you to have them continue thinking that? Well, but the East Side Catorces Are gonna retaliate against the Jokers.
You can't have it both ways, Brenda.
Make the call.
Ok.
Ok.
"Gang violence escalates.
" Ok.
That's Shorty you have there.
It wasn't an important murder at the time.
Single vic, gang territory.
What about this one? Topo? Same deal.
What is that perfume? I'm not wearing any.
Why? Do I smell? Yes but good.
We didn't find casings or bullets at either scene.
The casings I can't explain, But the bullets have such velocity, They either disintegrate on contact or go through the head and deep into whatever's behind the target.
What about your shampoo? I don't know.
It was on sale.
Using my homicide analyst again, I see.
Captain Taylor, these 2 gang killings Which 2? Gang killings account for 60% of the homicides in this city.
East Side Catorces? Only happened last month.
Single bullet to the head.
Catorce gets shot, it usually means he's done something worse than the Joker who shot him.
It's a two-fer.
Garbage in, garbage out.
Would you be saying this if the victims were black? I can go.
No.
Yes.
No! These poor, misunderstood youths, They kill cops.
So when they turn up dead, I don't see black, brown, yellow, or white.
The only color I see is blue.
This gang thing didn't start because of the police, And it won't end because of the police.
We just contain it.
So investigating these murders is a waste of time? How you allocate your resources is up to you, chief.
I was glad to get your call, Glad you kept the press out of this.
You know what you're doing here.
I know the esteem policewomen hold in the military.
It's pretty gutsy of you to ask a woman for help.
Your reputation canceled out the agenda.
Your father was a captain in the army.
You know the drill.
Well, I got to know you, too, a little as well Colonel.
Your most famous shot was from a moving boat on the Mekong Delta.
You blew off the head of an enemy sniper from 900 yards.
You had 72 confirmed kills in Vietnam.
That's 9 short of the record.
So you have my military file.
Yeah, it was a big help, So I googled you.
And you have my son's file as well.
Master gunnery sergeant D.
B.
Walter Junior, Was in a sniper unit as part of the invasion of Afghanistan, And in spring 2003, he was sent home Because? His wife was a social worker Killed by a stray bullet Shot by an East Side Catorce.
Her name was Donna.
Wonderful girl.
Wonderful.
Is her case still open? Yes.
Still interested in my opinion? Aaa.
.
very.
- That's why my son is doing this.
You people can't find who killed her and he's not gonna stop until every East Side Catorce is dead.
This happened in spring 2003.
What took your son so long to seek revenge? He thought the L.
A.
P.
D.
Was gonna do its job.
He waited, and nothing happened.
Last christmas, he walked out of the house and never came home, set out to start his own war.
Tell me how you can help me.
You're not gonna find my son on your own.
He's behind enemy lines, disguised within the community.
I can tell you how he thinks.
I want your son's uncensored military records.
I need a list of every known East Side Catorce, Names and addresses.
I want your records, too.
Only if I give you the lists? What do you hope to get from helping me? My wife died 14 years ago, And you know how it is.
Move from post to post, base to base.
Family becomes everything.
My boy is all I've got left.
I have a feeling if I'm there when you find him, we'll be able to take him alive.
So partners then? Partners.
Well, I know you can talk.
I need your help.
Again? Does this face look familiar? His wife was killed, spring 2003.
She was a social worker checking on a foster kid when she was hit by stray bullets.
I remember the case.
What was her last name again? Walter? No, I don't think so.
It was Quinn.
Donna Quinn.
She kept her maiden name.
There she is.
She was beautiful.
Looks like we interviewed several East Side Catorces, but Nothing.
Nada.
And her husband came to see you? Yeah.
He, uh, wanted to know why we weren't doing more.
We offered a reward, set up a tip line, recanvassed the neighborhood.
I How did he act? Was he angry? Did he lash out? No, no, no.
He was very calm, very respectful, Just like his father.
When did you meet his father? Oh, must have been january 2004.
Came to report his son missing.
Asked to speak only to me.
And did you look for him? We filed a missing persons report, but we never found the boy or the car he was driving.
He was licensed to carry guns many guns, And I assumed Well, he killed himself.
Suicide rate among returning vets is somewhere in the 17% range.
I looked at the father, and I thought, here's a guy who would rather believe that his son is missing than-than that the boy killed himself.
Never underestimate the power of grief.
Or the need for revenge.
Let's assume that the son is alive and he's the shooter.
What do you need? A Catorce that'll talk to me.
I told you he was gonna stop and get something to eat.
I'm still fuzzy as to why we're on him.
I'm not sure this is more fun Than the international cooking convention.
I don't know about that.
Did you see the guy selling steak knives? Which one? There were like 4 of them.
I'm talking about the one where you got this really nice butcher block.
I'm telling you, Flynn, these steak knives could cut cans.
And he had this deal where if you bought one set, you get this really nice set of dishtowels- This woman is going to drive me crazy.
Provenza here.
Hello, chief.
The colonel stopped to get a bite to eat.
Yep.
Nope.
We don't plan on losing him, ma'am.
That's why we're sitting here.
My ex-wife used to call me like that, talk to me like I was a child.
Which ex-wife was this? Number 2.
And number 4.
I forgot how annoying she was and married her twice.
Did you divorce her, or did she.
.
Don't get bogged down in technicalities.
Yeah.
Yeah, all right.
Yo, what's up, my brother? You looking to buy some blunts? Yo, where your ho at, my brotha? Cause I know you the original gangsta, yo.
I'm not your brother.
What, you don't like mexicans? Yeah, I could tell.
Watch your back, brother.
I'm taking over.
Jesus.
Yo, where'd you find this fool, man? Yeah, he come with the new job? Prolonging it won't make it any better, detective Tao.
Spill.
It seems colonel Walter evaded surveillance.
Who's colonel Walter, and why was he being surveilled? Someone the chief wanted us to follow.
Maybe I should go tell her- No, no.
She and Taylor are playing nice for a change.
Why don't we all just enjoy the moment.
What's up, yo? You mean your mommy and daddy gonna watch out for you, man? You can't slide up in here by yourself or what? Is he that other one's daddy? You know, the fool.
Hey, you look alike.
Mr.
Garcia Mr.
Garcia? Es tan bonita cuando no abre la boca Speakie spanish? Like your prison? Hey, man, I came in here because you said you were gonna make that carjacking thing go away.
We might.
Just listen.
Spring 2003 this woman, Donna Quinn, was killed.
Witnesses saw a gangster car speeding away from the house.
Man, every homie in the city's got a cutlass.
That don't mean nothing.
Your brother Martin Garcia, "Mosca" had a car like that registered to him.
All right.
Hay un hombre who was just bugging me about this.
He was bugging a couple of us.
Oh, yeah? What's he look like.
Like that one right there, Pero mas taller, Atletico.
Firme.
Do you like your men burnt? Enough talk.
You tell us who shot this woman.
I know you can speak english.
I know you speak perfectly good english.
Hey, man, bitch is dead.
Rest in peace.
We're not saying you did it, But you were there.
Nah, man.
Spring 2003? I was right in the beef.
I was in county.
Wayside, homes.
She was shot march 22.
You were released from prison 4 days before.
And the person who lived at the house where she was shot is rumored to have killed your primo.
So come on.
Must have had some payback coming.
Man, sounds like you know more about this than I do, homes.
So why you asking me all these questions? Because the Jokers didn't do the shootings in the park.
Your friends were killed by a sniper.
No way.
Same guy shot Shorty and Topo, too.
Think about it, son.
One shot to the head, each of 'em.
It was retaliation for Donna Quinn's death.
What is she talking about? Who was she having followed again? Now we don't know who's next on his list, But if that sniper wants you, he's gonna get you, Unless you tell us who killed her, And then maybe we can stop this guy.
Think of your homies.
You could save their lives, not just yours.
We can find you a new place to live.
We can get your whole family out of here in about an hour.
If you're sick of the life, this is your out.
Your abuelita's in the hospital, que no? Yeah.
She's at Good Samaritan.
She's really sick.
Oh.
Wacha.
Who's gonna take care of her when something happens to you? Man, no one even knew that black bitch was even there, man.
Homie, que pasa? Hermano, I gotta go, man.
We were just talking, right? - Am I under arrest? - No.
Please - later, Sanchez.
Wait.
Another Catorce is dead.
And who the hell is colonel Walter U.
S.
M.
C? Because Flynn and Provenza lost him.
Can I talk to you for a minute, Will? - What? - I might have made a big mistake.
I might have given a list of known Catorces to the killer.
You-you might have? Plus their addresses.
I may have led our killer to the next victim.
He lived in this building.
His street name is "Vaquero" cowboy, But I'm waiting for an I.
D.
He was killed by a- Single shot to the head.
Somebody briefed you already? How'd you get here so fast? Police scanner.
- You don't have to believe me.
- I don't.
Haven't lied to you yet.
Why would I start now? Because you found your son, or you did this.
You had me followed.
You know I didn't.
You deliberately evaded surveillance.
You paid some guy from the gas company 200 bucks To swap clothes with you.
I didn't kill him.
I am bringing you in for questioning.
Viva la Catorce! Get down! Chief? I'm fine.
This is the fallout from trusting your suspect: Including these 2 young boys.
I know.
Believe me, I know.
I've heard captain Taylor's side on this, too.
I'm sure you have.
Why were you not seriously considering the possibility that the son was dead, the colonel was the shooter? I don't know.
Well, I think I do, Because every time you see a military man, you go all weak in the knees.
Guy puts a little american flag pin on his lapel, and suddenly you think he's your daddy! All right, Will! I may have made a mistake, ok? But if we announce that we're redirecting this investigation towards the sniper, I'll lose all credibility with colonel Walter.
He'll never talk to me again.
Well, use that credibility now, Brenda, or lose it, because I'm not gonna let a gang war start just so you can get this guy to confess.
You want another crack at him, fine.
You have until the 6:00 news to break him in half.
You don't have a police scanner in your car.
So either you knew where the crime was going to take place, In which case you are not sharing information with me as you promised to do, or you're killing these Catorces yourself.
Well, if you think I did it, why don't you hold me here until the next murder.
I have no intention of waiting around for someone else to die.
We are getting to the truth of this, colonel, right now, this instant.
Either you prove to me That you had nothing to do with this, Or I walk out of here and call the F.
B.
I.
, the C.
I.
A.
and Homeland Security and tell them I have a military-trained sniper in my interview room who's using the citizens of los angeles for target practice.
How can I prove that I'm not- That is not my problem.
Ok.
Wait, wait! Wait.
Wait a minute.
Our passports, his and mine.
Going to South Africa.
Here.
I was trying to find him before you did, to get him out of the country.
My boy is not a murderer, he's a soldier.
And who is he killing? He's killing our enemies in the streets.
Meet Miguel and Luis.
They were also shot to death last night.
Why? Because they were standing next to a Joker Whom the Catorces decided to blow away In retaliation for your son's killings.
Oh, my god.
Oh, my god.
Are they our enemies, too? Or just collateral damage in your son's private war? You know I don't think like that.
I helped you.
I gave you- Useless information! Don't pretend that we were partners.
You manipulated me- I never manipulated you! I have nothing but the utmost respect for you.
Snipers are invisible, that's what you said, trained to avoid detection.
Yet you deliberately caught my attention by walking across my crime scene with a rifle scope in your hand, conned me into keeping the truth from the press, traded me meaningless military records for names and addresses of your son's potential victims.
I had to stop him, you know that.
He can be stopped.
My boy is not a monster.
We've got 3 hours left to prove that, Because then my boss calls the federal government and releases your son's photo to the press.
of this investigation.
into a full-on manhunt.
They'll kill him.
Then tell me how he's choosing his victims.
Look over the surveillance tapes that we've got from the Park Plaza hotel.
See if you can help us I.
D.
him.
Help me save your son's life.
Who is manipulating who? Ok.
I'll help you If you take me along.
Sorry.
No more negotiating.
Don't leave me behind, please.
Wait, wait, wait.
Stop the tape here.
Back it up a bit.
Hmm.
Freeze it right here.
Is it possible to see this enhanced? You got it.
Is it the mailman? No.
Sunglasses and backpack.
No.
No, that's not him.
I can only assume that my son knew the hotel so well that he was able to avoid the cameras.
So, now tell me how he's choosing his victims.
After Donna died, there was an article in the times with this photo.
It was a skateboard star who was introducing a new line of clothes, said his inspiration came from the streets.
Look how fat and happy they are.
Infuriated my son and infuriated me.
First victim, Shorty.
Next, Topo.
Little Mousy, Big Mousy, Payaso.
Vaquero.
He's going in order.
This guy is next.
His name is Hector Vasquez.
"Toker".
Ok, thank you.
No way.
A man's life is in danger.
So says your source, who's been so good at telling the truth.
Look, you are upset about- Yeah, about children getting shot.
This guy Toker spent 2 years in juvie for assaulting his mother.
I'm not getting you bodyguards to protect a gangbanger.
But my team is my team, right? Have you ever run one of these? Will you take tactical? Yeah.
You want my men in on this? How you allocate your resources is up to you, captain.
And I'd like to remind everybody That while Walter Jr.
, our sniper, has been trained by the best, he's out to get the Catorces, not us.
Um, captain Taylor has agreed to run this operation.
So, captain Taylor? She's delegating? What do you know about that? Pigs can fly.
All right, everyone, listen up.
First we'll get onto the roofs Of the surrounding buildings.
Once we are in position to cover him we will send Sanchez up to Toker's house, let him try and talk the boy into protective custody.
And if we are lucky, emphasis on lucky, while our sniper's fixated on his next target, we'll get a chance to surprise him.
We got about 45 minutes until nightfall.
Keep your talkies on, and I want to see vests on everyone, and I mean everyone.
What are we still doing here? Let's do this.
Uh, maybe it would be better If we left the O.
G.
Here, sir.
Fine with me.
You guys go get shot at, And I'll watch it on TV.
I'll meet you at the house.
I've gotten permission for you to accompany us.
No.
It's too late.
I'll wait for you here.
I promise you, sir, I will do everything in my power to bring your son in alive.
I'll drive.
What do you feel like having for dinner? Drive-through? Ok, whatever.
Sounds good.
Hey, um, will you watch the doors and see if you see a tall black man leaving? He's 6'2" and has perfect posture.
Is he coming to dinner with us? No.
This is less about dinner and more about a joint operation between the F.
B.
I.
and the L.
A.
P.
D.
Is this official? Oh, of course.
Yeah.
I'm just a little behind on my paperwork, that's all.
He's pulling out of the lot.
Could you follow him, please, and be extra careful, because he's very good at detecting surveillance.
Hello, Mr.
Howard.
The time is 7:32 pm.
Your location is 150 north Los Angeles street.
What is that? I call her Tara.
I think it's the same woman who does my voice mail.
My navigation system.
Oh.
I have got to get one of those.
I must really like you.
Usually we do this with backup, where we block off the surrounding area.
.
Can you still see him? Or, you know what I would have done? I would've put an auto-track on his car, Or a GPS homing device on the car- I could've done all that, but instead I called you.
And for that I am grateful.
Sanchez.
Sanchez, go.
What's going on? Do you think he knows he's being followed? I'm driving parallel to him, so I don't think so.
What? What's going on? I think he's winking at me.
Don't look directly at him! - Brenda - Don't look at me either! You know, when I imagined you in my back seat, This isn't exactly what I had in mind.
Captain, what's that? That's him.
All units respond, 200 block of Loma.
Grey apartment building, on the roof.
Let's move it now! F.
B.
I.
! Don't move! Stand up! Put your hands over your head now! Back up.
Hands behind your head, slowly.
On your knees.
On your knees.
Taylor.
Go.
Let me show this high-powered sniper rifle.
Taylor.
Go.
This is Sanchez.
Toker's in county.
He's been there for, like, 4 days now.
Unbelievable! Are we anywhere near Lucas avenue? We're moving away from Lucas avenue.
Wanted him to be telling me the truth.
- She set us up.
- No, she didn't.
Well, then, where is she? That's a good question.
I'll find out.
She was never planning to show.
You know, I had her all wrong.
She's an even bigger bitch than I thought she was.
Hey, it's Gabriel.
Where are you? Such a suck-up.
Yeah, well, we have a problem.
Yeah, no kidding.
Toker is in county.
Jesus said he saw the colonel talking to these guys.
He must have known.
No, I didn't know till just now.
I followed him to cover our base- Do you really think I'd send you on a wild-goose chase? Damn it.
What? What's - what's going on? The colonel lied to me.
Hey, you want me to turn around, Cause he stopped his car.
Then let me out! Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Not unless you keep your phone on.
How about that? You got me on speed dial.
Ok.
I'm gonna park the car, and I'm gonna meet you- Hey, wait! Brenda, wait! Brenda, wait for me! It wasn't the man with the sunglasses.
It was the mailman! Mailman? What mailman? What you talking about? I should've known.
I should've known! Brenda, where are you? Going into the white building across the street from the hospital.
Brenda, I'm almost there.
Wait for me.
Wait.
Hello, Fritz? Hello, Fritz? Fritz! Police.
Put your weapon down.
Put your hands in the air.
Back away from the gun.
Put your hands behind your head.
Do not turn around.
Do not turn around! Colonel Walter! Colonel Walter, show yourself! I know you're here.
Show yourself! Colonel Walter! Oh, please.
Don't leave me here.
Colonel Walter.
Colonel Walter.
Show yourself!