Shot in the Dark (2017) s01e07 Episode Script
Chasing Hell
[Howard.]
Just watch your back.
This is not a great neighborhood.
This is a gangster area right here.
LAPD rookies spend the time here because a lot of shit happens.
Oh, shit.
What's this muppet want? [indistinct chattering over radio.]
I don't trust him.
Taser.
[crackling.]
That'll scare a few people off.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Something on Metro about a nude gunshot victim possibly wandering around in the desert.
- [man.]
You filming stuff? - Yeah.
Why you sitting right here when you say you filming shit right here? Waiting for something to happen.
- I was just asking.
- Yeah, I know.
I live here.
That's what I said.
So, why the fuck you film shit right here? I film stuff here all the time.
And I've been here all this time, so, you So, why you do that shit, man? Why you do that? I'm just asking you.
I'm trying to make a living.
How you make a living filming this shit right here? I'm filming the shootings and the police chases [man.]
Filming the shit, filming the shit, that We's the homeless right here, over there.
And we try to do to you All people's not homeless! And I'm not.
I am not no motherfucking this and this homeless right here.
Yeah.
No, I get it.
Oh, it's It's tough these days.
- Damn right.
- It's tough.
Yeah.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
- Hey, what was that? - Can you hear that? - That's LA That's LAPD.
- Yeah.
Oh, you got a scanner? Oh, shit.
I need to hear that shit.
- Let me hear that shit.
Shh - Here.
You can hear it.
No, no, no.
[woman over radio.]
Gang member, 5'4 " to 5'6", 160, bald head, no shirt, heading - Did you understand that? - You goddamn right.
That's on 79th.
[Howard chuckles.]
[man.]
Oh, shit.
[chattering over radio.]
- [Howard.]
You must see some shit out here.
- What? - Do you see some shit? - I see a lot of shit out here.
All this shit right here? This ain't nothing compared what you seen out here.
Damn, man.
This is the first time I've ever seen you here.
Oh, I'm here a lot.
- Really? - Yep.
- I'm pretty white.
- I'm always here.
- You could see me.
You'd recognize me.
- [laughs.]
Shit, yeah.
Okay, okay, okay.
I give you that, I give you that, I give you that.
He said, "I'm pretty white, you can see me.
" Oh, God.
Come on, man.
[Howard.]
We're out here documenting a war.
[tires squealing, sirens wailing.]
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Scott.]
You don't realize the danger until it's done.
[Austin.]
What we see in a week, most people do not see in an entire lifetime.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Howard.]
The life of a stringer is tough.
We're out here putting our lives on the line for the best story.
Fires.
Police chases.
Shootings.
I have a passion for my job.
But my endgame is coming home to my family.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Scott.]
Stringing is a dangerous job.
To be a good stringer, you have to put yourself in danger every day.
I've done this so long, I see somebody die and it doesn't bother me, this is the job.
We document bad things.
We really don't get to do good stories.
[Zak.]
All journalists that do what we do are the same way.
Being able to go into these situations, which are, right off the bat, dangerous.
They're risking everything to get these shots and to get that information.
So, you have to kind of be mentally prepared for the worst.
'Cause it can end just like that.
[tires squealing.]
[newsman on TV.]
A fiery crash left the driver unconscious and likely to die New Year's Day.
But fortunately for him, a photojournalist was nearby and pulled him to safety.
[officer.]
It's my distinct honor, Austin, to present you with a California Highway Patrol outstanding community service award for your bravery.
A life was saved and you should feel real proud about doing that.
It's an absolute honor to receive this commendation.
I genuinely don't think that I did anything outstanding.
I think I was in the right place at the right time to be able to help out.
Um, you know, and we shouldn't forget you guys.
You guys, you're out there day and night every day, putting your lives in a Putting your lives on the line.
You know? So, thank you.
[applauding.]
I mean, he's so humble and just modest about the whole thing here.
He deserves it, whether he says it or not.
He brought me to tears.
Did a good job.
[photographer.]
One, two, and three.
Well, it's TV stations.
That's what we do.
This night turned out to be one of those nights.
- It's good to see you.
- No, you, too.
You know, I know I haven't picked up your calls recently.
You're busy.
We try to cover everything, and we just we can't do it.
- It's not the issue, though.
- I know.
It's, um Your well-being's the main thing.
Thank you.
I know I've been out, you know, for a while.
But let me figure out where my mind is.
Unless you come back out, we are gonna be going downhill.
Zak offered to take Marc and I under the OnScene banner.
Why did you even entertain that conversation? I'd have been like, "Fuck off.
" What about RMG? The name? I wanna keep that, but we need you back.
We were getting run into the ground.
We can't compete.
The situation's dire.
Give me a while to get back in the game.
We'll sit, talk about what to do.
I've gotta be in the right frame of mind.
It's been a bloody hard time.
[Zak.]
This job is not easy.
We talk about the job itself.
We don't talk about, "Hey, this was great, we did thi s.
" We talk about, "Hey, I almost got killed doing this.
" But every night is something new, something exciting.
I love it.
[woman over radio.]
Third and Boyle.
Officer needs help.
Shots fired.
This one is over in Just North of Boyle Heights.
It's right off the freeway.
Might've actually occurred on the freeway.
Freeway shootings are pretty rare here.
So, I'm very curious to see what we get when we get there.
[man over radio.]
Third and Boyle.
Third and Boyle.
Shots fired.
All right, we're on our way to a shooting.
We're so close, yet we're so fucking far.
[horns honking.]
[groans.]
Car over here.
Watch out, everybody.
Sorry.
Sorry.
Sorry.
[tires squealing.]
Right there.
Found it.
[sirens wailing.]
She must've been shot with a shotgun or hit by car or something.
Her leg is fucked.
So far, no competition.
It looks like the 10, for some reason, is red and then opens up.
That sucks, man.
We would've been there by now, but Could've been there two times over.
Oh, my goodness.
Scott is here.
He must've been going very fast.
[chuckles.]
But sometimes when you get there really fast, you kind of miss the whole story.
[Scott.]
I did get there first.
But I also got the shot.
That's what it all boils down to.
Not missing the shot.
When I see Zak, I just look right through him, like he's not even there.
He cares more about the image that he creates for himself than doing the job.
[Zak.]
I assume the imaginary tape line goes here? [chuckles.]
[officer.]
Yeah, just Just give them a little space.
[Zak.]
Yeah, that's fine.
Okay.
Cool.
Thank you.
To me, at least personally, it's about maintaining that calm.
It's about going into these situations and staying as in control and as precise as possible.
Getting what we have here, like, that's enough to tell the story.
Especially that casing on the street.
My job is to keep my clients happy.
That's why we really strive to make sure that we do have the best footage.
That's what matters to me.
Certain people do things differently.
Okay.
On to the next.
[Howard.]
I am definitely quietly confident this is my night.
Just give me a pursuit.
Give me a pursuit and this would be one of the better nights of the year.
[man over radio.]
We have a bear sighting in Monrovia.
A bear is roaming the streets just off the 210.
Not the kind of pursuit I had in mind, but I'll take it.
It's different.
And different sells.
I mean, Marc's the bear guy.
Marc gets bears all the time.
Unfortunately, he's not out yet.
Too early for Marc.
[man over radio.]
He's foraging for food in the middle of the neighborhood.
We need to get him out of here.
This will be my first bear.
It's in this neighborhood.
They say it's walking around between trees.
So far, LoudLabs, OnScene, nowhere to be seen.
There it is there.
Look.
It's right here.
Unbelievable.
Bears are wild animals.
They're unpredictable.
They're dangerous.
They don't care.
Watch out, watch out, watch out.
Come on, Mr.
Bear.
Come on, you bastard.
He's coming.
That thing is a beast.
No way for him to get out.
He's gotta come back this way.
It's coming right at us.
I'm actually more scared of that than I am in the middle of Compton.
I'd rather film a gang shootout than this.
New this morning, seems like it's not new, but it is.
Another bear sighting.
This one happened overnight in Duarte.
It is the second bear sighting over the past few days in the same general area.
Overnight, the bear ambled through several neighborhoods.
Look at him trotting.
[Zak.]
Freeway's a real dangerous place.
You've got fast-moving traffic.
Lot of intoxicated people.
Who are not just paying attention to shit.
So, you gotta keep an eye on it.
Control.
I'm Code 6.
It's a rollover.
Looks like Looks like minor injuries.
I think it's DUI.
I got a 415 in lanes.
This guy, like, flipping out on his girl in Look at that.
Is this guy about to get into a fight right now? As long as he doesn't start, like, punching chicks, I think we're okay.
Look who's already here.
My buddy Zak.
Again? Scott is behind us.
He's acting like it's the craziest thing on the planet.
What are you doing? His approach is very reckless.
Yeah.
I think Scott's gonna get killed doing something stupid.
[horn honking.]
To me, this isn't a story until I can get on that side and shoot that way.
Any time I can get those buildings in the background, I win.
[siren wailing.]
How often do you see that? That's an empty Los Angeles freeway in the middle of downtown Los Angeles.
You like how CHP moves cars off the freeway? If your car wasn't ruined, it's now totaled.
I don't care if it's a story or not, look through that viewfinder.
Just visuals alone, that's beautiful.
It's not gonna be breaking news for 5:00.
But if it's visual, it's a story.
Probably will get a hit or two.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Zak.]
So, this morning, there was an accident.
A gentleman by the name of Matthew Frank was killed.
And he was the San Luis Obispo stringer.
That's really sad.
[newswoman on TV.]
Matthew Frank died Tuesday morning in a fiery single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 near Santa Margarita.
His mother said he was on his way to cover a structure fire in Atascadero.
It's unclear what caused his Chevy Tahoe to veer off the road and hit a tree.
But the California Highway Patrol says it was raining at the time.
[Zak.]
We're here for Matthew's memorial service.
He was known as SLO Stringer.
S-L-O stringer for, obviously, San Luis Obispo.
Matt, from everything I've heard about him, from my guys who knew him, he was literally the definition of what I'm trying to do.
He worked with the community, worked with the law enforcement personnel.
Reported things accurately and went out and actually helped people.
It's great to see this much support for Matthew.
This is the coolest thing.
It'll make me definitely second-guess a couple of things.
And double-check, make sure I'm doing things properly.
And being safer than I normally would.
[Jacquelyn.]
I am Jacquelyn Frank.
I am Matthew's mother.
I'm gonna try to just take a couple of minutes and speak a little bit if I can, about my wonderful son.
First of all, thank you all.
This is so overwhelming to us.
It's beyond words.
[Austin.]
We've lost one of us tonight.
Even though we're competition, we're all a stringer family.
It hits home.
We are walking through this journey right now and, um, it's like an out-of-body experience for us.
And we know that we're not promised tomorrow as evidenced by Matthew's accident.
It's difficult for us and we ask for your prayers to lift us up in the days ahead.
Thank you for being a friend to our son.
[applause.]
[Austin.]
It could be any one of us up there.
[woman over radio.]
A13 is in pursuit of a possible 415.
Male with a gun.
[Howard.]
Fuck.
Apparently, there's a pursuit in downtown.
We'll have that.
It's a pursuit.
Southbound on Main Street.
I like that.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Howard.]
Move.
[horn honks.]
Get off your phone.
Right now, we're gonna get behind them.
I need to get in front of this shot.
I need a passing shot.
Can't sell a pursuit without it.
Like selling a fire without flames.
Doesn't really work.
So, you're speeding.
That's a little dangerous, but sometimes you have to take some chances to get those shots.
[man over radio.]
He is now eastbound, Valley Boulevard.
Shit.
I am looking to get in front of this dude.
I love a pursuit, because you try to outsmart a bad guy.
[sirens wailing.]
One street south of Atlantic.
He should be coming down right there.
I think.
Just keep your camera on.
And then before you even get out, you just start hitting record.
Then figure it out as it goes along.
All right.
He's going that way.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
They're in front of us.
We don't wanna get shot.
[officer.]
Get back! Get back! Get back! Get back! To the back! Get to the back! There it is.
Oh, shit.
[Scott.]
We're in the line of fire.
That white light in her eye, that's how you know.
[officer.]
Keep walking backwards.
Keep walking backwards.
Come back to my voice.
Go back one more.
[Howard.]
This is a great story.
But am I gonna be the only one here? [officer.]
Come out with your hands up.
Dude, get the fuck out of the way.
[Howard.]
Whatever, Scott.
Go and find a different shot.
Howard fucked it up for us.
Fuck.
[officer.]
Right there! Go down to your knees.
Lay on your chest.
Spread your legs.
[Scott.]
Fucking Howard.
I gotta find a better shot.
Let's go here.
That'll do it.
Go.
Go, go.
Right here.
They're gonna go up and clear the car, that's what they're gonna do.
Howard screwed up my shot, but, fortunately, it helped me.
You forced me to get a better shot.
Thank you.
That was fun.
That was fun.
We'll be adding that to the package.
Tonight, I'm making my quota.
Three suspects are in custody after a police pursuit ended in Alhambra, near the intersection of West 18th and South Main Street.
I absolutely busted my ass trying to get that pursuit.
You know Scott.
I guess I didn't see him.
I walked in front of his shot.
And pushed him up the street a bit, but he still got the hits.
It's just really frustrating.
It's getting old.
[Zak.]
I'm still waiting to hear back from Howard on whether he's gonna join OnScene.
Howard is a fantastic photographer, fantastic journalist.
By himself, he does a great job.
But when you work as a team, you have so many more resources at your disposal.
That's why merging and having them work with us, it's a no-brainer.
I just I hope that he agrees.
[woman over radio.]
Shots fired, West Adams Boulevard.
It's a smoke shop.
Shots fired at a smoke shop.
[woman continues speaking indistinctly.]
4000 West Adams.
That's gonna be way over by Crenshaw and Adams.
That's a bit far to go.
This is where we really need Austin back.
We'd have that covered.
[hums.]
We've got a shooting at a medical marijuana dispensary.
And we're gonna go see who got shot.
So, we're in a good position for this.
The trick now is just to get there in one piece.
We need hits.
Hits.
Hits.
Hits.
Come on, come on, come on.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[man over radio.]
We need an RA for a male, gunshot wound.
[Howard.]
Got him.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I should've gone to that.
Fuck.
I did hear the original call.
Didn't jump right on it.
That's the problem with this business.
It's all about making decisions.
If you don't make that decision in a split second, you regret it.
I think I'm gonna regret this.
Should've gone straightaway.
Damn.
[Zak.]
Almost.
I'm almost there.
Come on, buddy.
We're pretty close to this.
If we're not the first ones here, I'll be kinda surprised.
Hurry up, little bitch.
Come on, come on, come on.
So close.
Look who's in front of us.
My buddy Zak.
Oh, Scott's behind us.
That car right there.
[chuckles.]
He's gonna wanna beat me there.
That's something he needs to do.
[tires squeal.]
Yeah.
See? What are you doing, dude? Scott's a whole nother level.
[Scott.]
Fuck, yeah.
[Scott.]
Zak got off the freeway before me.
But I got to the scene before him.
You got a victim there on the ground.
See him? Looks like he's dead.
No, he's moving.
He's moving.
[Zak.]
You can see him laying on the ground there.
Um, but it looks like he might have, uh, obviously some traumatic injuries.
Hey, I've got one victim down inside the location.
Looks like a male victim, possibly.
They're about to transport.
My game plan is I'm gonna dump the car.
I'm gonna run, get that victim.
[Zak.]
There's our victim.
There's the ambulance.
[siren wailing.]
Ah, you motherfucker.
There goes the victim.
Fuck.
Fucking hell.
Oh, hey.
Look who joined the party.
[Howard.]
Fuck's sake.
- Howard? Where were you? - I was sat at 110 and Slauson.
Heard the original call.
Didn't go until I heard they had a victim.
- Got you.
- Big mistake.
- Okay.
That makes sense.
- Big mistake.
- It's good to see you either way.
- Never good to see you.
- You get the victim? - Yeah.
- Did Scott get the victim, too? - Yeah, he got him.
[Howard groans.]
Fuck.
It's a story, I'm here.
I may as well film it.
That's fucking frustrating.
Fuck.
Could've been really good.
Could've been.
[groans.]
Business is struggling.
My luck has definitely changed in the last month or two.
I seem to just miss things by minutes.
I'm just getting my ass kicked, if I'm honest.
I mean, I know how to shoot.
It's just, I'm late to stuff.
I think RMG just has too few people to really compete.
I work my ass off, but I'm just run ragged.
New this morning, a security guard shoots a would-be robber at a South LA marijuana dispensary.
The shooting happened on West Adams Boulevard near South Palm Grove Avenue before 11.
[Howard.]
What's going on? [Austin sighs.]
Oh, man.
- Good drive? - No, terrible drive.
Um So, what's been going on? I mean, these last couple of months have been horrendous with what Zak's doing and what Scott's doing.
Packaging and expanding and creating just ridiculous amounts of competition, things that Marc and I simply cannot keep up to.
Marc and I can't take the entire city by ourselves.
There's just too much stuff.
We cannot compete.
Go and cover the stories that these guys aren't covering.
Just, you know, do different stories, then.
Rescues like the kittens and the animal stories.
Day-to-day.
You may not be earning or get as many hits as Scott and Zak and those guys.
But overall, if you get the right story Yeah.
- Who's to say we can't - That's just ridiculous.
We do need you back.
We're not gonna survive without you coming back out.
I mean, I need your help.
Yeah, I don't know if I can Look, I can't.
Just watch your back.
This is not a great neighborhood.
This is a gangster area right here.
LAPD rookies spend the time here because a lot of shit happens.
Oh, shit.
What's this muppet want? [indistinct chattering over radio.]
I don't trust him.
Taser.
[crackling.]
That'll scare a few people off.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
Something on Metro about a nude gunshot victim possibly wandering around in the desert.
- [man.]
You filming stuff? - Yeah.
Why you sitting right here when you say you filming shit right here? Waiting for something to happen.
- I was just asking.
- Yeah, I know.
I live here.
That's what I said.
So, why the fuck you film shit right here? I film stuff here all the time.
And I've been here all this time, so, you So, why you do that shit, man? Why you do that? I'm just asking you.
I'm trying to make a living.
How you make a living filming this shit right here? I'm filming the shootings and the police chases [man.]
Filming the shit, filming the shit, that We's the homeless right here, over there.
And we try to do to you All people's not homeless! And I'm not.
I am not no motherfucking this and this homeless right here.
Yeah.
No, I get it.
Oh, it's It's tough these days.
- Damn right.
- It's tough.
Yeah.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
- Hey, what was that? - Can you hear that? - That's LA That's LAPD.
- Yeah.
Oh, you got a scanner? Oh, shit.
I need to hear that shit.
- Let me hear that shit.
Shh - Here.
You can hear it.
No, no, no.
[woman over radio.]
Gang member, 5'4 " to 5'6", 160, bald head, no shirt, heading - Did you understand that? - You goddamn right.
That's on 79th.
[Howard chuckles.]
[man.]
Oh, shit.
[chattering over radio.]
- [Howard.]
You must see some shit out here.
- What? - Do you see some shit? - I see a lot of shit out here.
All this shit right here? This ain't nothing compared what you seen out here.
Damn, man.
This is the first time I've ever seen you here.
Oh, I'm here a lot.
- Really? - Yep.
- I'm pretty white.
- I'm always here.
- You could see me.
You'd recognize me.
- [laughs.]
Shit, yeah.
Okay, okay, okay.
I give you that, I give you that, I give you that.
He said, "I'm pretty white, you can see me.
" Oh, God.
Come on, man.
[Howard.]
We're out here documenting a war.
[tires squealing, sirens wailing.]
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Scott.]
You don't realize the danger until it's done.
[Austin.]
What we see in a week, most people do not see in an entire lifetime.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Howard.]
The life of a stringer is tough.
We're out here putting our lives on the line for the best story.
Fires.
Police chases.
Shootings.
I have a passion for my job.
But my endgame is coming home to my family.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Scott.]
Stringing is a dangerous job.
To be a good stringer, you have to put yourself in danger every day.
I've done this so long, I see somebody die and it doesn't bother me, this is the job.
We document bad things.
We really don't get to do good stories.
[Zak.]
All journalists that do what we do are the same way.
Being able to go into these situations, which are, right off the bat, dangerous.
They're risking everything to get these shots and to get that information.
So, you have to kind of be mentally prepared for the worst.
'Cause it can end just like that.
[tires squealing.]
[newsman on TV.]
A fiery crash left the driver unconscious and likely to die New Year's Day.
But fortunately for him, a photojournalist was nearby and pulled him to safety.
[officer.]
It's my distinct honor, Austin, to present you with a California Highway Patrol outstanding community service award for your bravery.
A life was saved and you should feel real proud about doing that.
It's an absolute honor to receive this commendation.
I genuinely don't think that I did anything outstanding.
I think I was in the right place at the right time to be able to help out.
Um, you know, and we shouldn't forget you guys.
You guys, you're out there day and night every day, putting your lives in a Putting your lives on the line.
You know? So, thank you.
[applauding.]
I mean, he's so humble and just modest about the whole thing here.
He deserves it, whether he says it or not.
He brought me to tears.
Did a good job.
[photographer.]
One, two, and three.
Well, it's TV stations.
That's what we do.
This night turned out to be one of those nights.
- It's good to see you.
- No, you, too.
You know, I know I haven't picked up your calls recently.
You're busy.
We try to cover everything, and we just we can't do it.
- It's not the issue, though.
- I know.
It's, um Your well-being's the main thing.
Thank you.
I know I've been out, you know, for a while.
But let me figure out where my mind is.
Unless you come back out, we are gonna be going downhill.
Zak offered to take Marc and I under the OnScene banner.
Why did you even entertain that conversation? I'd have been like, "Fuck off.
" What about RMG? The name? I wanna keep that, but we need you back.
We were getting run into the ground.
We can't compete.
The situation's dire.
Give me a while to get back in the game.
We'll sit, talk about what to do.
I've gotta be in the right frame of mind.
It's been a bloody hard time.
[Zak.]
This job is not easy.
We talk about the job itself.
We don't talk about, "Hey, this was great, we did thi s.
" We talk about, "Hey, I almost got killed doing this.
" But every night is something new, something exciting.
I love it.
[woman over radio.]
Third and Boyle.
Officer needs help.
Shots fired.
This one is over in Just North of Boyle Heights.
It's right off the freeway.
Might've actually occurred on the freeway.
Freeway shootings are pretty rare here.
So, I'm very curious to see what we get when we get there.
[man over radio.]
Third and Boyle.
Third and Boyle.
Shots fired.
All right, we're on our way to a shooting.
We're so close, yet we're so fucking far.
[horns honking.]
[groans.]
Car over here.
Watch out, everybody.
Sorry.
Sorry.
Sorry.
[tires squealing.]
Right there.
Found it.
[sirens wailing.]
She must've been shot with a shotgun or hit by car or something.
Her leg is fucked.
So far, no competition.
It looks like the 10, for some reason, is red and then opens up.
That sucks, man.
We would've been there by now, but Could've been there two times over.
Oh, my goodness.
Scott is here.
He must've been going very fast.
[chuckles.]
But sometimes when you get there really fast, you kind of miss the whole story.
[Scott.]
I did get there first.
But I also got the shot.
That's what it all boils down to.
Not missing the shot.
When I see Zak, I just look right through him, like he's not even there.
He cares more about the image that he creates for himself than doing the job.
[Zak.]
I assume the imaginary tape line goes here? [chuckles.]
[officer.]
Yeah, just Just give them a little space.
[Zak.]
Yeah, that's fine.
Okay.
Cool.
Thank you.
To me, at least personally, it's about maintaining that calm.
It's about going into these situations and staying as in control and as precise as possible.
Getting what we have here, like, that's enough to tell the story.
Especially that casing on the street.
My job is to keep my clients happy.
That's why we really strive to make sure that we do have the best footage.
That's what matters to me.
Certain people do things differently.
Okay.
On to the next.
[Howard.]
I am definitely quietly confident this is my night.
Just give me a pursuit.
Give me a pursuit and this would be one of the better nights of the year.
[man over radio.]
We have a bear sighting in Monrovia.
A bear is roaming the streets just off the 210.
Not the kind of pursuit I had in mind, but I'll take it.
It's different.
And different sells.
I mean, Marc's the bear guy.
Marc gets bears all the time.
Unfortunately, he's not out yet.
Too early for Marc.
[man over radio.]
He's foraging for food in the middle of the neighborhood.
We need to get him out of here.
This will be my first bear.
It's in this neighborhood.
They say it's walking around between trees.
So far, LoudLabs, OnScene, nowhere to be seen.
There it is there.
Look.
It's right here.
Unbelievable.
Bears are wild animals.
They're unpredictable.
They're dangerous.
They don't care.
Watch out, watch out, watch out.
Come on, Mr.
Bear.
Come on, you bastard.
He's coming.
That thing is a beast.
No way for him to get out.
He's gotta come back this way.
It's coming right at us.
I'm actually more scared of that than I am in the middle of Compton.
I'd rather film a gang shootout than this.
New this morning, seems like it's not new, but it is.
Another bear sighting.
This one happened overnight in Duarte.
It is the second bear sighting over the past few days in the same general area.
Overnight, the bear ambled through several neighborhoods.
Look at him trotting.
[Zak.]
Freeway's a real dangerous place.
You've got fast-moving traffic.
Lot of intoxicated people.
Who are not just paying attention to shit.
So, you gotta keep an eye on it.
Control.
I'm Code 6.
It's a rollover.
Looks like Looks like minor injuries.
I think it's DUI.
I got a 415 in lanes.
This guy, like, flipping out on his girl in Look at that.
Is this guy about to get into a fight right now? As long as he doesn't start, like, punching chicks, I think we're okay.
Look who's already here.
My buddy Zak.
Again? Scott is behind us.
He's acting like it's the craziest thing on the planet.
What are you doing? His approach is very reckless.
Yeah.
I think Scott's gonna get killed doing something stupid.
[horn honking.]
To me, this isn't a story until I can get on that side and shoot that way.
Any time I can get those buildings in the background, I win.
[siren wailing.]
How often do you see that? That's an empty Los Angeles freeway in the middle of downtown Los Angeles.
You like how CHP moves cars off the freeway? If your car wasn't ruined, it's now totaled.
I don't care if it's a story or not, look through that viewfinder.
Just visuals alone, that's beautiful.
It's not gonna be breaking news for 5:00.
But if it's visual, it's a story.
Probably will get a hit or two.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Zak.]
So, this morning, there was an accident.
A gentleman by the name of Matthew Frank was killed.
And he was the San Luis Obispo stringer.
That's really sad.
[newswoman on TV.]
Matthew Frank died Tuesday morning in a fiery single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 near Santa Margarita.
His mother said he was on his way to cover a structure fire in Atascadero.
It's unclear what caused his Chevy Tahoe to veer off the road and hit a tree.
But the California Highway Patrol says it was raining at the time.
[Zak.]
We're here for Matthew's memorial service.
He was known as SLO Stringer.
S-L-O stringer for, obviously, San Luis Obispo.
Matt, from everything I've heard about him, from my guys who knew him, he was literally the definition of what I'm trying to do.
He worked with the community, worked with the law enforcement personnel.
Reported things accurately and went out and actually helped people.
It's great to see this much support for Matthew.
This is the coolest thing.
It'll make me definitely second-guess a couple of things.
And double-check, make sure I'm doing things properly.
And being safer than I normally would.
[Jacquelyn.]
I am Jacquelyn Frank.
I am Matthew's mother.
I'm gonna try to just take a couple of minutes and speak a little bit if I can, about my wonderful son.
First of all, thank you all.
This is so overwhelming to us.
It's beyond words.
[Austin.]
We've lost one of us tonight.
Even though we're competition, we're all a stringer family.
It hits home.
We are walking through this journey right now and, um, it's like an out-of-body experience for us.
And we know that we're not promised tomorrow as evidenced by Matthew's accident.
It's difficult for us and we ask for your prayers to lift us up in the days ahead.
Thank you for being a friend to our son.
[applause.]
[Austin.]
It could be any one of us up there.
[woman over radio.]
A13 is in pursuit of a possible 415.
Male with a gun.
[Howard.]
Fuck.
Apparently, there's a pursuit in downtown.
We'll have that.
It's a pursuit.
Southbound on Main Street.
I like that.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[Howard.]
Move.
[horn honks.]
Get off your phone.
Right now, we're gonna get behind them.
I need to get in front of this shot.
I need a passing shot.
Can't sell a pursuit without it.
Like selling a fire without flames.
Doesn't really work.
So, you're speeding.
That's a little dangerous, but sometimes you have to take some chances to get those shots.
[man over radio.]
He is now eastbound, Valley Boulevard.
Shit.
I am looking to get in front of this dude.
I love a pursuit, because you try to outsmart a bad guy.
[sirens wailing.]
One street south of Atlantic.
He should be coming down right there.
I think.
Just keep your camera on.
And then before you even get out, you just start hitting record.
Then figure it out as it goes along.
All right.
He's going that way.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
They're in front of us.
We don't wanna get shot.
[officer.]
Get back! Get back! Get back! Get back! To the back! Get to the back! There it is.
Oh, shit.
[Scott.]
We're in the line of fire.
That white light in her eye, that's how you know.
[officer.]
Keep walking backwards.
Keep walking backwards.
Come back to my voice.
Go back one more.
[Howard.]
This is a great story.
But am I gonna be the only one here? [officer.]
Come out with your hands up.
Dude, get the fuck out of the way.
[Howard.]
Whatever, Scott.
Go and find a different shot.
Howard fucked it up for us.
Fuck.
[officer.]
Right there! Go down to your knees.
Lay on your chest.
Spread your legs.
[Scott.]
Fucking Howard.
I gotta find a better shot.
Let's go here.
That'll do it.
Go.
Go, go.
Right here.
They're gonna go up and clear the car, that's what they're gonna do.
Howard screwed up my shot, but, fortunately, it helped me.
You forced me to get a better shot.
Thank you.
That was fun.
That was fun.
We'll be adding that to the package.
Tonight, I'm making my quota.
Three suspects are in custody after a police pursuit ended in Alhambra, near the intersection of West 18th and South Main Street.
I absolutely busted my ass trying to get that pursuit.
You know Scott.
I guess I didn't see him.
I walked in front of his shot.
And pushed him up the street a bit, but he still got the hits.
It's just really frustrating.
It's getting old.
[Zak.]
I'm still waiting to hear back from Howard on whether he's gonna join OnScene.
Howard is a fantastic photographer, fantastic journalist.
By himself, he does a great job.
But when you work as a team, you have so many more resources at your disposal.
That's why merging and having them work with us, it's a no-brainer.
I just I hope that he agrees.
[woman over radio.]
Shots fired, West Adams Boulevard.
It's a smoke shop.
Shots fired at a smoke shop.
[woman continues speaking indistinctly.]
4000 West Adams.
That's gonna be way over by Crenshaw and Adams.
That's a bit far to go.
This is where we really need Austin back.
We'd have that covered.
[hums.]
We've got a shooting at a medical marijuana dispensary.
And we're gonna go see who got shot.
So, we're in a good position for this.
The trick now is just to get there in one piece.
We need hits.
Hits.
Hits.
Hits.
Come on, come on, come on.
[indistinct chattering over radio.]
[man over radio.]
We need an RA for a male, gunshot wound.
[Howard.]
Got him.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I should've gone to that.
Fuck.
I did hear the original call.
Didn't jump right on it.
That's the problem with this business.
It's all about making decisions.
If you don't make that decision in a split second, you regret it.
I think I'm gonna regret this.
Should've gone straightaway.
Damn.
[Zak.]
Almost.
I'm almost there.
Come on, buddy.
We're pretty close to this.
If we're not the first ones here, I'll be kinda surprised.
Hurry up, little bitch.
Come on, come on, come on.
So close.
Look who's in front of us.
My buddy Zak.
Oh, Scott's behind us.
That car right there.
[chuckles.]
He's gonna wanna beat me there.
That's something he needs to do.
[tires squeal.]
Yeah.
See? What are you doing, dude? Scott's a whole nother level.
[Scott.]
Fuck, yeah.
[Scott.]
Zak got off the freeway before me.
But I got to the scene before him.
You got a victim there on the ground.
See him? Looks like he's dead.
No, he's moving.
He's moving.
[Zak.]
You can see him laying on the ground there.
Um, but it looks like he might have, uh, obviously some traumatic injuries.
Hey, I've got one victim down inside the location.
Looks like a male victim, possibly.
They're about to transport.
My game plan is I'm gonna dump the car.
I'm gonna run, get that victim.
[Zak.]
There's our victim.
There's the ambulance.
[siren wailing.]
Ah, you motherfucker.
There goes the victim.
Fuck.
Fucking hell.
Oh, hey.
Look who joined the party.
[Howard.]
Fuck's sake.
- Howard? Where were you? - I was sat at 110 and Slauson.
Heard the original call.
Didn't go until I heard they had a victim.
- Got you.
- Big mistake.
- Okay.
That makes sense.
- Big mistake.
- It's good to see you either way.
- Never good to see you.
- You get the victim? - Yeah.
- Did Scott get the victim, too? - Yeah, he got him.
[Howard groans.]
Fuck.
It's a story, I'm here.
I may as well film it.
That's fucking frustrating.
Fuck.
Could've been really good.
Could've been.
[groans.]
Business is struggling.
My luck has definitely changed in the last month or two.
I seem to just miss things by minutes.
I'm just getting my ass kicked, if I'm honest.
I mean, I know how to shoot.
It's just, I'm late to stuff.
I think RMG just has too few people to really compete.
I work my ass off, but I'm just run ragged.
New this morning, a security guard shoots a would-be robber at a South LA marijuana dispensary.
The shooting happened on West Adams Boulevard near South Palm Grove Avenue before 11.
[Howard.]
What's going on? [Austin sighs.]
Oh, man.
- Good drive? - No, terrible drive.
Um So, what's been going on? I mean, these last couple of months have been horrendous with what Zak's doing and what Scott's doing.
Packaging and expanding and creating just ridiculous amounts of competition, things that Marc and I simply cannot keep up to.
Marc and I can't take the entire city by ourselves.
There's just too much stuff.
We cannot compete.
Go and cover the stories that these guys aren't covering.
Just, you know, do different stories, then.
Rescues like the kittens and the animal stories.
Day-to-day.
You may not be earning or get as many hits as Scott and Zak and those guys.
But overall, if you get the right story Yeah.
- Who's to say we can't - That's just ridiculous.
We do need you back.
We're not gonna survive without you coming back out.
I mean, I need your help.
Yeah, I don't know if I can Look, I can't.