1 00:00:09,301 --> 00:00:12,221 (PHONE RINGING) 2 00:00:12,221 --> 00:00:13,931 (OPERATOR SPEAKING) 3 00:00:13,972 --> 00:00:15,852 (ALLEGED VICTIM SPEAKING) 4 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:27,610 (ALLEGED VICTIM SPEAKING) 5 00:00:27,653 --> 00:00:30,573 (BRYAN SPEAKING) 6 00:00:30,614 --> 00:00:32,494 (ALLEGED VICTIM SPEAKING) 7 00:00:36,245 --> 00:00:37,875 (SIRENS BLARING) 8 00:00:37,955 --> 00:00:40,585 BRYAN: I shot out your tires for trying to run, you stupid bitch! 9 00:00:42,209 --> 00:00:43,379 (BRYAN SPEAKING) 10 00:00:49,967 --> 00:00:53,007 Bryan fired deadly missiles into an occupied vehicle. 11 00:00:53,053 --> 00:00:55,393 That fact alone can put him in prison for a long time. 12 00:00:56,807 --> 00:00:58,137 BRYAN: If I don’t win this case, 13 00:00:58,183 --> 00:01:00,193 my entire life, the way I know it, 14 00:01:00,227 --> 00:01:01,227 I could lose it all... 15 00:01:03,355 --> 00:01:04,405 for trying to do the right thing. 16 00:01:19,413 --> 00:01:22,793 I’m Lisa Figueroa, and I’m the defense attorney for Bryan Anthony Lee. 17 00:01:24,167 --> 00:01:26,877 Bryan’s accused of two serious felony charges, 18 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,260 shooting a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle, 19 00:01:30,299 --> 00:01:33,299 and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 20 00:01:33,302 --> 00:01:35,852 He’s also charged with misdemeanor offenses. 21 00:01:35,887 --> 00:01:38,637 But the more significant are the two felony charges. 22 00:01:38,724 --> 00:01:41,101 If he were convicted of both of those felonies, 23 00:01:41,101 --> 00:01:43,731 he’s facing up to a maximum of 20 years in prison. 24 00:01:46,189 --> 00:01:47,939 On December 26th, 2021, 25 00:01:47,983 --> 00:01:50,903 Bryan was driving with his family. 26 00:01:50,944 --> 00:01:55,874 He says, they see the vehicle in front of them tailgating these motorcyclists. 27 00:01:55,907 --> 00:01:59,697 So, Bryan, being a motorcycle rider himself, gets concerned, 28 00:01:59,745 --> 00:02:01,295 and so he simply flashes his light. 29 00:02:03,790 --> 00:02:07,630 Apparently that driver reacts and slams his brakes. 30 00:02:09,338 --> 00:02:11,208 Bryan had to swerve to avoid him, 31 00:02:11,256 --> 00:02:13,676 and when he did, he was facing oncoming traffic. 32 00:02:15,010 --> 00:02:17,010 When he tried to get back into the lane, 33 00:02:17,054 --> 00:02:18,514 Bryan claims that 34 00:02:18,555 --> 00:02:20,515 the other driver didn’t let him in, 35 00:02:20,557 --> 00:02:22,517 and that caused a collision. 36 00:02:29,775 --> 00:02:32,035 LISA: After the crash, Bryan claims that this guy 37 00:02:32,069 --> 00:02:34,699 is trying to leave the scene. 38 00:02:34,738 --> 00:02:37,488 He takes out his gun and he shoots the back left tire 39 00:02:37,532 --> 00:02:38,872 to immobilize the vehicle. 40 00:02:42,996 --> 00:02:45,616 Bryan maintains that the only thing he was ever trying to do 41 00:02:45,666 --> 00:02:47,206 was to keep the alleged victim 42 00:02:47,250 --> 00:02:48,960 from getting back out on the road. 43 00:02:49,044 --> 00:02:52,464 However, the alleged victim gives a totally different story 44 00:02:52,506 --> 00:02:54,126 He claims that it’s Bryan’s fault 45 00:02:54,174 --> 00:02:55,342 that the accident happened 46 00:02:55,342 --> 00:02:56,472 and that Bryan threatened him. 47 00:03:04,768 --> 00:03:06,848 And so that’s where the aggravated assault 48 00:03:06,895 --> 00:03:08,395 with the deadly weapon comes from. 49 00:03:20,575 --> 00:03:23,405 LISA: The prosecution is gonna paint this as a road rage incident, 50 00:03:23,453 --> 00:03:26,003 where Bryan recklessly discharged his firearm 51 00:03:26,039 --> 00:03:27,709 with no regard to the consequences. 52 00:03:30,502 --> 00:03:31,542 This case is gonna come down 53 00:03:31,586 --> 00:03:33,046 to whether or not the jury 54 00:03:33,088 --> 00:03:34,378 believes that Bryan was a hero 55 00:03:34,423 --> 00:03:35,803 in the way he acted in the moment, 56 00:03:35,882 --> 00:03:37,092 or whether he was a vigilante 57 00:03:37,134 --> 00:03:38,684 taking the law into his own hands. 58 00:03:43,223 --> 00:03:45,233 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 59 00:03:50,397 --> 00:03:51,977 BRYAN: I’ve never been in trouble with the law. 60 00:03:53,525 --> 00:03:54,825 Never been in trouble for anything. 61 00:03:57,779 --> 00:03:59,989 And I feel like I’m stuck. 62 00:04:00,031 --> 00:04:01,821 I mean, I haven’t been able to move on with my life. 63 00:04:05,370 --> 00:04:07,710 That night my big goal was 64 00:04:07,748 --> 00:04:10,578 keeping my family and everybody safe. 65 00:04:10,625 --> 00:04:12,995 When people’s safety and lives are on the line, 66 00:04:13,044 --> 00:04:15,554 it’s kind of, it’s kind of hard for me to just sit back. 67 00:04:16,214 --> 00:04:17,884 It could be... 68 00:04:17,924 --> 00:04:19,054 It’s just the way I’m wired. 69 00:04:26,516 --> 00:04:28,426 I spent four years in the Marine Corps 70 00:04:28,477 --> 00:04:30,307 as an Aviation Ordnanceman, 71 00:04:30,353 --> 00:04:32,903 putting the bombs together, doing the missiles. 72 00:04:32,939 --> 00:04:34,819 You know, I was young and I felt untouchable. 73 00:04:36,943 --> 00:04:38,243 I really did learn a lot. 74 00:04:40,363 --> 00:04:43,663 The Marine Corps considers me an expert marksman. 75 00:04:43,700 --> 00:04:45,240 Uh, this is the highest award 76 00:04:45,285 --> 00:04:47,575 they give for, uh, rifle marksmanship. 77 00:04:49,623 --> 00:04:50,623 I’m pretty proud of that. 78 00:04:53,835 --> 00:04:55,335 I did use my training that night. 79 00:04:56,671 --> 00:05:00,341 Me assessing the situation, 80 00:05:00,383 --> 00:05:02,433 knowing what to do to mitigate danger, 81 00:05:03,470 --> 00:05:05,220 and without my training, I mean 82 00:05:05,222 --> 00:05:06,512 I couldn’t tell you what would’ve happened. 83 00:05:19,277 --> 00:05:21,397 I’ve asked Bryan to come in and meet with me today, 84 00:05:21,446 --> 00:05:22,856 so that way we can go over the case, 85 00:05:22,906 --> 00:05:24,526 and he can explain to me 86 00:05:24,574 --> 00:05:26,534 why he took the actions that he did on that night. 87 00:05:29,621 --> 00:05:31,411 So I had a chance to review the police report, 88 00:05:31,456 --> 00:05:32,746 and I’ve also looked at the charges 89 00:05:32,791 --> 00:05:34,461 that the state has filed against you. 90 00:05:35,502 --> 00:05:37,132 These are some really serious charges. 91 00:05:37,170 --> 00:05:38,670 The two felonies you have, 92 00:05:38,713 --> 00:05:40,923 they’re punishable by up to 20 years in prison. 93 00:05:40,966 --> 00:05:42,086 (EXHALES) 94 00:05:42,133 --> 00:05:43,973 I wanna hear your version 95 00:05:44,010 --> 00:05:45,390 of what happened that night 96 00:05:45,428 --> 00:05:46,598 and why you did what you did. 97 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,020 Well, basically, I was on my way to dinner with my family. 98 00:05:52,060 --> 00:05:53,390 Out ahead of us 99 00:05:53,436 --> 00:05:55,766 I see somebody driving erratically, 100 00:05:55,814 --> 00:05:58,942 severely tailgating a motorcycle. 101 00:05:58,942 --> 00:06:00,442 I’m thinking to myself, 102 00:06:01,403 --> 00:06:02,533 "He’s gonna kill this guy." 103 00:06:03,196 --> 00:06:05,736 So I flash my brights, 104 00:06:05,782 --> 00:06:08,792 and that’s when the guy slammed on his brakes in front of me. 105 00:06:08,827 --> 00:06:11,497 So I had to swing out from behind him to not hit him. 106 00:06:11,538 --> 00:06:14,168 And then I decided to just 107 00:06:14,207 --> 00:06:16,497 merge back in front of him and go on my way. 108 00:06:16,501 --> 00:06:18,631 But he held me in oncoming traffic, 109 00:06:18,670 --> 00:06:20,550 and I got put with a choice 110 00:06:20,589 --> 00:06:22,169 of either having a head-on 111 00:06:22,215 --> 00:06:26,385 or, uh, basically turning back into him. 112 00:06:26,428 --> 00:06:28,968 And so then the cars collide and then what? 113 00:06:29,014 --> 00:06:32,684 And then we come to a stop on the side of the road in the ditch, basically. 114 00:06:32,726 --> 00:06:36,266 I hear my daughter behind me and she’s freaking out. She’s crying. 115 00:06:36,313 --> 00:06:38,523 So I turned around and make sure nobody’s hurt and stuff. 116 00:06:38,565 --> 00:06:39,985 I was pretty sure the car was totaled. 117 00:06:42,527 --> 00:06:45,817 So then I see this guy start to go. 118 00:06:45,822 --> 00:06:47,992 I’m thinking to myself, "He’s dangerous." 119 00:06:48,033 --> 00:06:50,623 So I ran over there and I... I’m yelling at him like, 120 00:06:50,660 --> 00:06:53,450 "Stop this car!" And he’s just not listening. 121 00:06:53,496 --> 00:06:55,866 -So the man was trying to get away? -Yes. 122 00:06:57,083 --> 00:06:59,503 So my next step is my pistol. 123 00:07:02,088 --> 00:07:05,048 I put three shots in his tire and ended up popping it. 124 00:07:05,091 --> 00:07:06,931 Do you have any kind of specific training 125 00:07:06,968 --> 00:07:09,468 that would’ve helped you know that 126 00:07:09,512 --> 00:07:11,762 you were gonna be able to hit the tire? 127 00:07:11,806 --> 00:07:13,766 Uh, so I did Marine Corps pistol training. 128 00:07:14,517 --> 00:07:16,187 And, uh... 129 00:07:16,227 --> 00:07:18,017 that was definitely a big factor 130 00:07:18,063 --> 00:07:20,403 in me choosing to do what I did. 131 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:25,110 So at any point, did you specifically threaten to kill him, 132 00:07:25,153 --> 00:07:26,453 to shoot him? 133 00:07:26,488 --> 00:07:27,488 Absolutely not. 134 00:07:28,782 --> 00:07:30,662 I was just doing the best I could in the moment. 135 00:07:31,284 --> 00:07:32,334 And here I am, 136 00:07:33,995 --> 00:07:37,705 being accused of being some malicious, angry guy 137 00:07:37,749 --> 00:07:40,289 that I’m not. 138 00:07:40,335 --> 00:07:43,755 All right, Bryan, well, I think I have all the information that I need from you. 139 00:07:43,797 --> 00:07:44,917 I’ll be in touch. 140 00:07:44,965 --> 00:07:46,175 All right. Sounds good. 141 00:07:48,218 --> 00:07:51,348 Talking to Bryan really helps me understand what his mindset is. 142 00:07:52,597 --> 00:07:54,307 He went into protective mode 143 00:07:54,349 --> 00:07:56,139 because of his military training. 144 00:07:56,184 --> 00:07:58,984 But the struggle is gonna be whether or not 145 00:07:59,020 --> 00:08:03,570 a juror is going to think he was acting reasonably, 146 00:08:03,608 --> 00:08:05,228 or if he should have just called the police 147 00:08:05,276 --> 00:08:07,526 and waited for them to come and let them deal with it. 148 00:08:11,658 --> 00:08:13,658 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 149 00:08:24,796 --> 00:08:26,506 Angelia is pretty much my stepdaughter. 150 00:08:26,548 --> 00:08:29,128 She’s been living with me now for three-and-half years. 151 00:08:30,343 --> 00:08:31,343 She just means a lot to me. 152 00:08:32,387 --> 00:08:34,177 I call her my daughter. 153 00:08:34,222 --> 00:08:36,182 I mean, no doubt about it. She’s my family. 154 00:08:38,184 --> 00:08:39,984 -You got it? -Yeah. 155 00:08:40,979 --> 00:08:41,979 There you go. 156 00:08:48,403 --> 00:08:50,613 KATHLEEN: Bryan and I met three years ago. 157 00:08:50,655 --> 00:08:51,695 And we just clicked. 158 00:08:53,408 --> 00:08:55,788 Bryan has changed our lives. 159 00:08:55,827 --> 00:08:57,617 Uh, my daughter and I. 160 00:08:57,662 --> 00:08:59,542 He’s, he’s our, our person. 161 00:09:00,790 --> 00:09:02,670 -You think you got what it takes? -No. 162 00:09:04,252 --> 00:09:07,002 He is very protective, especially of his family. 163 00:09:10,091 --> 00:09:13,971 The idea of him being in jail for potentially 20 years, 164 00:09:14,012 --> 00:09:15,932 it would turn my life upside down, 165 00:09:17,515 --> 00:09:19,675 as well as Angelia’s. (CLEARS THROAT) 166 00:09:54,886 --> 00:09:58,136 We’re in a situation where the alleged victim’s story 167 00:09:58,181 --> 00:10:01,061 is different from Bryan’s story. 168 00:10:01,101 --> 00:10:03,691 These kind of roadside incidents are always challenging. 169 00:10:03,728 --> 00:10:05,148 The people involved tend to be 170 00:10:05,230 --> 00:10:07,230 in a heightened state of emotion because of the crash, 171 00:10:07,273 --> 00:10:10,153 and any witnesses that are traveling by are going at speed, 172 00:10:10,193 --> 00:10:11,613 so they don’t always see everything. 173 00:10:19,077 --> 00:10:22,077 I’m gonna have you, kind of, walk me through what happened 174 00:10:22,163 --> 00:10:23,873 and where did it all start? 175 00:10:23,915 --> 00:10:26,085 It started much further back. 176 00:10:31,381 --> 00:10:33,051 So I flash him, 177 00:10:33,091 --> 00:10:34,471 and that’s when the guy’s trying to brake-check me, 178 00:10:34,509 --> 00:10:37,089 and it forced me to come out from behind him 179 00:10:37,137 --> 00:10:40,347 and into the turn lane, basically into oncoming traffic 180 00:10:42,267 --> 00:10:44,937 He starts toying with us, like, not letting us come back over, 181 00:10:44,978 --> 00:10:46,688 no matter how fast we go. 182 00:10:46,729 --> 00:10:49,689 He made contact with the back left of his car 183 00:10:49,732 --> 00:10:50,782 onto the front right of our car. 184 00:10:53,945 --> 00:10:59,665 LISA: I didn’t realize that the alleged victim literally pushed you off the road. 185 00:10:59,701 --> 00:11:04,371 Yes. So I have to counter-steer or I have to take this head-on. 186 00:11:04,414 --> 00:11:07,754 And I counter-steered and we end up 187 00:11:07,792 --> 00:11:09,752 face-first in the ditch somewhere over here. 188 00:11:11,838 --> 00:11:13,588 And the guy that pushed you off the road, 189 00:11:13,631 --> 00:11:15,341 where did his vehicle go? 190 00:11:15,341 --> 00:11:18,681 And I see him over here, he’s on the sidewalk. 191 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:20,220 And he, his car just starts scooting 192 00:11:20,221 --> 00:11:21,601 like it’s ready to go. 193 00:11:28,730 --> 00:11:30,520 And he’s continuing to move? 194 00:11:30,565 --> 00:11:34,995 He’s steadily driving down the sidewalk, it is his own personal lane. 195 00:11:35,028 --> 00:11:37,738 So when you actually fired the gun, were you that distance? 196 00:11:38,656 --> 00:11:41,026 Um, yes, I was about right here. 197 00:11:41,075 --> 00:11:43,405 I knew I had to do something to 198 00:11:43,453 --> 00:11:46,663 basically demobilize his car. 199 00:11:51,502 --> 00:11:54,962 LISA: Bryan was much closer than I thought when he shot the tire. 200 00:11:55,006 --> 00:11:57,546 Which can help prove that he wasn’t reckless in his actions. 201 00:11:57,592 --> 00:12:00,642 But the main problem is that he opened fire in public 202 00:12:00,678 --> 00:12:04,678 and actually shot at an occupied vehicle multiple times, 203 00:12:04,724 --> 00:12:08,394 and for many people, that’s just dangerous and inexcusable. 204 00:12:08,436 --> 00:12:10,016 So that’s what we have to overcome. 205 00:12:16,945 --> 00:12:19,415 My client’s facing 20 years in prison 206 00:12:19,447 --> 00:12:23,117 for shooting into a vehicle, and aggravated assault. 207 00:12:23,201 --> 00:12:25,791 I need to prove that in the context of what was going on, 208 00:12:25,870 --> 00:12:29,040 that his actions were legally justified and not reckless. 209 00:12:30,625 --> 00:12:33,255 I’m going to see my brother, who’s also an attorney. 210 00:12:33,294 --> 00:12:36,464 I want him to help me look at the evidence in absolute detail, 211 00:12:36,464 --> 00:12:38,384 to help support Bryan’s claims. 212 00:12:46,641 --> 00:12:48,231 So here’s the 911 call. 213 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,110 You see how he keeps saying, "He shot at me, 214 00:13:02,156 --> 00:13:03,656 -"he shot at me?" -"He shot at me." 215 00:13:03,741 --> 00:13:06,451 They’re charging aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, 216 00:13:06,494 --> 00:13:09,414 because of the fear element and the threatening. 217 00:13:11,624 --> 00:13:15,594 (ALLEGED VICTIM SPEAKING) 218 00:13:15,628 --> 00:13:19,668 (OPERATOR SPEAKING) 219 00:13:22,677 --> 00:13:23,927 So what do you think? 220 00:13:25,138 --> 00:13:28,468 The dispatcher herself has to tell him to stop. 221 00:13:28,516 --> 00:13:30,016 "Don’t talk to him. We don’t want you talking 222 00:13:30,018 --> 00:13:31,808 -"to the man with the gun." -Right. 223 00:13:31,853 --> 00:13:33,773 He doesn’t seem to ever at any point, 224 00:13:33,813 --> 00:13:39,823 to have any, um, fear of Bryan, whatsoever. 225 00:13:42,488 --> 00:13:44,488 (OPERATOR SPEAKING) 226 00:13:46,451 --> 00:13:48,041 (ALLEGED VICTIM SPEAKING) 227 00:13:48,870 --> 00:13:49,950 (OPERATOR SPEAKING) 228 00:13:49,996 --> 00:13:51,656 So he says a couple of drinks, 229 00:13:51,664 --> 00:13:53,624 -meaning he’d been drinking. -Right. 230 00:13:53,666 --> 00:13:55,996 Did the police give him a breathalyzer? 231 00:13:56,044 --> 00:13:58,054 No, the alleged victim, they didn’t. 232 00:13:58,129 --> 00:14:00,709 They claimed that because he didn’t seem impaired, 233 00:14:00,798 --> 00:14:03,628 they didn’t follow through with any kind of, uh, 234 00:14:03,676 --> 00:14:05,546 DUI-related test. 235 00:14:05,636 --> 00:14:07,806 It’s unfortunate that the police didn’t do it, 236 00:14:07,847 --> 00:14:10,217 because then we don’t have that as additional evidence. 237 00:14:18,149 --> 00:14:19,729 OPERATOR: Sir... Sir... 238 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,320 LISA: I’m a little bit concerned about Bryan’s tone, 239 00:14:24,405 --> 00:14:27,735 -the language, the yelling and cursing. -Yeah. 240 00:14:27,742 --> 00:14:29,077 The state’s gonna wanna argue, 241 00:14:29,077 --> 00:14:31,537 make him out to be like a road-rager. 242 00:14:31,579 --> 00:14:32,749 You could lose some jurors 243 00:14:32,830 --> 00:14:34,248 with just the use of the strong language, 244 00:14:34,248 --> 00:14:35,828 the yelling alone. 245 00:14:35,875 --> 00:14:38,335 I think if I heard that, if I heard that, I think 246 00:14:38,378 --> 00:14:41,418 I would start to have serious questions about Bryan’s behavior. 247 00:14:44,050 --> 00:14:46,260 LISA: What’s really concerning on this call 248 00:14:46,344 --> 00:14:48,764 is how loud and aggressive Bryan sounds, 249 00:14:48,846 --> 00:14:53,426 and I’m sure the prosecution is really gonna hone in on that at trial. 250 00:14:53,434 --> 00:14:56,064 That could be potentially damaging for our case. 251 00:15:06,114 --> 00:15:08,454 BRYAN: Oof! Acrobat. 252 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:10,580 (LAUGHS) 253 00:15:12,870 --> 00:15:14,870 Me and my dad’s relationship is pretty important to me. 254 00:15:14,914 --> 00:15:16,624 We’re about 16 years apart, I think. 255 00:15:16,707 --> 00:15:19,377 We like, kind of grew up together. 256 00:15:19,419 --> 00:15:21,299 Used to work together all day, every day, 257 00:15:21,379 --> 00:15:23,549 go on Harley rides all over the place. 258 00:15:24,465 --> 00:15:25,715 Sometimes my dad’s definitely 259 00:15:25,758 --> 00:15:27,128 more like my brother than my dad. 260 00:15:28,928 --> 00:15:31,468 I wish you could have went on that ride with us yesterday, Bryan. 261 00:15:31,472 --> 00:15:33,472 -Really? -It was fun. 262 00:15:35,476 --> 00:15:38,766 It definitely helps me to kind of step back off of things 263 00:15:38,813 --> 00:15:42,573 and not be, not be so beat up by everything that’s going on. 264 00:15:45,153 --> 00:15:46,903 MITCH: Ooh! BRYAN: Oh. 265 00:15:46,946 --> 00:15:47,946 MITCH: There goes my bait. 266 00:15:48,990 --> 00:15:51,159 Oh. 267 00:15:51,159 --> 00:15:54,409 Well, I’m catching stuff, at least. Might be trees, but... 268 00:15:57,457 --> 00:15:59,327 He’s my first-born son. 269 00:15:59,333 --> 00:16:01,423 Um, he means a lot to me. 270 00:16:01,461 --> 00:16:05,461 Uh, I can’t imagine what it would be like not to be with him. 271 00:16:05,506 --> 00:16:09,006 It is very hard for me to see how Bryan’s stressed out 272 00:16:09,010 --> 00:16:11,010 He seems to be a little bit more closed. 273 00:16:11,012 --> 00:16:14,472 Um, I think he has a lot of stuff on his mind. 274 00:16:14,515 --> 00:16:16,135 All the stuff that’s going on with Bryan, 275 00:16:18,269 --> 00:16:21,189 I like to tend to only think of the good stuff. 276 00:16:21,189 --> 00:16:25,189 And, um, (VOICE BREAKING) the fact that he would be gone for 20 years, 277 00:16:25,276 --> 00:16:27,026 I don’t even wanna think about it. 278 00:16:27,111 --> 00:16:28,531 Because I love him with all my heart. 279 00:16:40,833 --> 00:16:44,553 So I just got an email from the prosecutor 280 00:16:44,629 --> 00:16:47,048 who has actually filed a motion in this case 281 00:16:47,048 --> 00:16:52,638 to prohibit me from talking about Bryan’s military experience. 282 00:16:52,678 --> 00:16:55,348 This could be incredibly damaging to our defense 283 00:16:55,389 --> 00:16:57,639 because I wanted to show the jury 284 00:16:57,725 --> 00:17:00,345 that Bryan is a highly-trained marksman. 285 00:17:00,394 --> 00:17:02,654 He wasn’t just recklessly firing off shots. 286 00:17:05,650 --> 00:17:07,320 -(PHONE RINGING) -BRYAN: Hello. 287 00:17:08,528 --> 00:17:09,568 BRYAN: Yeah. 288 00:17:09,570 --> 00:17:10,900 (LISA SPEAKING) 289 00:17:18,746 --> 00:17:21,246 It sounds like they’re trying to fix the game to me, 290 00:17:22,208 --> 00:17:24,538 which is bull (BLEEP). 291 00:17:25,419 --> 00:17:26,499 (LISA SPEAKING) 292 00:17:32,385 --> 00:17:33,345 (SIGHING) All right. 293 00:17:34,262 --> 00:17:35,596 (LISA SPEAKING) 294 00:17:35,596 --> 00:17:36,596 BRYAN: Bye. 295 00:17:42,103 --> 00:17:44,613 Furious. Absolutely furious. 296 00:17:45,523 --> 00:17:47,942 I think that’s bull (BLEEP). 297 00:17:47,942 --> 00:17:51,862 Without my training, I definitely would not have taken that shot. 298 00:17:53,406 --> 00:17:55,736 Seeing the state try to do these underhanded things, 299 00:17:55,783 --> 00:17:57,785 and try to, try to rig it, 300 00:17:57,785 --> 00:17:59,785 I basically feel like my country is against me. 301 00:18:06,460 --> 00:18:07,750 LISA: Bryan genuinely believed 302 00:18:07,795 --> 00:18:09,875 that he was actively trying to prevent 303 00:18:09,922 --> 00:18:12,092 having a reckless person get back on the road 304 00:18:12,133 --> 00:18:17,053 when he shot into the back tire of the alleged victim. 305 00:18:17,096 --> 00:18:18,966 So I’m meeting with my investigator, Eric, 306 00:18:18,973 --> 00:18:20,973 to see if there’s someone that is gonna 307 00:18:20,975 --> 00:18:22,315 corroborate Bryan’s story, 308 00:18:22,393 --> 00:18:24,273 that his actions were justified. 309 00:18:32,153 --> 00:18:33,613 LISA: Here’s the first one. 310 00:18:47,335 --> 00:18:49,295 LISA: So when you hear the blue car and the white... 311 00:18:49,337 --> 00:18:50,957 Alleged victim and the white is, 312 00:18:51,005 --> 00:18:52,173 -uh, Bryan? -Bryan’s. 313 00:18:52,173 --> 00:18:53,466 Bryan Lee’s. Okay. 314 00:18:53,466 --> 00:18:55,086 Right, and that’s huge because that’s what 315 00:18:55,134 --> 00:18:56,184 Bryan’s been saying all along. 316 00:18:56,302 --> 00:18:59,182 He said that this guy caused the crash. 317 00:18:59,263 --> 00:19:00,683 Now we have an independent person 318 00:19:00,806 --> 00:19:02,596 literally saying that the blue car 319 00:19:02,642 --> 00:19:05,102 tried to push the white car into oncoming traffic. 320 00:19:05,144 --> 00:19:07,274 -It doesn’t get more fatal than that. -No, not at all. 321 00:19:21,786 --> 00:19:24,705 ERIC: He even said the driver was trying to get away. 322 00:19:24,705 --> 00:19:27,205 Which you said, what, that’s what Bryan stated earlier? 323 00:19:27,208 --> 00:19:28,538 That’s exactly what Bryan said. 324 00:19:28,626 --> 00:19:31,126 So we have another witness that corroborates 325 00:19:31,170 --> 00:19:33,670 everything that Bryan was saying. So that’s good. 326 00:19:57,405 --> 00:20:01,075 If you think about the other previous callers, 327 00:20:01,158 --> 00:20:02,828 they only see bits and pieces 328 00:20:02,868 --> 00:20:05,078 because they saw it from their cars. 329 00:20:05,162 --> 00:20:08,666 But this caller seems to have seen the beginning and the end. 330 00:20:08,666 --> 00:20:11,585 It sounds like he must have been living close to the scene, 331 00:20:11,585 --> 00:20:13,745 and it’s all consistent with what Bryan is saying. 332 00:20:13,754 --> 00:20:16,924 ERIC: It’s all consistent with what Bryan is saying, exactly. 333 00:20:17,007 --> 00:20:19,717 I’m definitely gonna have to give this guy a call for sure. 334 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,760 This one sounds like he’s the key witness, 335 00:20:21,762 --> 00:20:24,062 so maybe we can get lucky on that. 336 00:20:24,098 --> 00:20:27,058 It would be really helpful if we could track them down. 337 00:20:32,732 --> 00:20:34,732 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 338 00:20:42,032 --> 00:20:45,082 The prosecutor argued that Bryan’s military experienc 339 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,699 has to be kept from the jury hearing 340 00:20:47,705 --> 00:20:51,045 because it would make him seem more sympathetic and credible. 341 00:20:51,083 --> 00:20:53,753 However, I think it’s gonna be a lot easier for them 342 00:20:53,794 --> 00:20:56,464 to believe it was reasonable for him to have acted this way 343 00:20:56,464 --> 00:20:58,764 because of his military background, 344 00:20:58,799 --> 00:21:00,589 rather than a regular civilian. 345 00:21:06,807 --> 00:21:10,137 It’s disappointing that the judge has agreed with the prosecution. 346 00:21:10,144 --> 00:21:12,444 However, he’s given us some latitude 347 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,310 in terms of what we can discuss. 348 00:21:15,566 --> 00:21:17,106 I can still talk about his training. 349 00:21:17,151 --> 00:21:20,111 I just can’t mention the military specifically. 350 00:21:20,154 --> 00:21:21,614 Obviously, I want the jury to hear 351 00:21:21,655 --> 00:21:22,655 where the training came from, 352 00:21:22,740 --> 00:21:24,658 and I do think it’s relevant. 353 00:21:24,658 --> 00:21:28,158 And so that could really be a blow to our case. 354 00:21:36,128 --> 00:21:38,508 (PHONE RINGING) 355 00:21:38,589 --> 00:21:41,469 -Hey, Dakota. -DAKOTA: Hey, how you doing? 356 00:21:41,509 --> 00:21:44,799 Just to let you know, I should be there in less than 20 minutes. 357 00:21:44,845 --> 00:21:46,095 I will see you when you get here. 358 00:21:46,138 --> 00:21:47,848 You got it, buddy. Thank you so much. 359 00:21:57,274 --> 00:21:59,784 So where were you exactly 360 00:21:59,819 --> 00:22:01,989 when this whole thing started? 361 00:22:02,029 --> 00:22:06,529 I was sitting on my back porch, which looks out to the road. 362 00:22:06,534 --> 00:22:09,044 I heard tires screech, someone slamming on brakes. 363 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:12,499 And as I look, I seen a dark car 364 00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:14,708 T-bone a white car, four-door. 365 00:22:14,708 --> 00:22:16,168 ERIC: Okay. 366 00:22:16,210 --> 00:22:17,380 DAKOTA: And the car ran into the ditch. 367 00:22:17,461 --> 00:22:18,801 And from that point forward, 368 00:22:18,838 --> 00:22:20,208 the dark car turned 369 00:22:20,297 --> 00:22:21,377 trying to get away. 370 00:22:21,465 --> 00:22:23,215 Okay. 371 00:22:23,217 --> 00:22:25,337 Where’s the guy in the white car at that point? 372 00:22:25,386 --> 00:22:27,216 -He was running across the street. -Right. 373 00:22:27,221 --> 00:22:29,391 My wife was like, "You know what the hell’s going on?" 374 00:22:29,473 --> 00:22:30,973 I turned to her, 375 00:22:31,016 --> 00:22:33,726 and that’s when I heard the initial shots. 376 00:22:33,727 --> 00:22:36,057 So I called 911 and ran out there. 377 00:22:36,146 --> 00:22:37,686 Right. 378 00:22:37,731 --> 00:22:39,571 So you didn’t even see the shooting? 379 00:22:39,650 --> 00:22:40,900 No, I didn’t. 380 00:22:40,901 --> 00:22:43,321 I didn’t see the initial gunshot itself, no. 381 00:22:45,197 --> 00:22:48,907 But, um, at any given time, did you hear him 382 00:22:48,993 --> 00:22:51,503 -threaten anybody at all? -No. 383 00:22:51,537 --> 00:22:53,077 You heard no one screaming out, 384 00:22:53,163 --> 00:22:56,173 let’s say, you know, "I’m gonna shoot you." Or... 385 00:22:56,208 --> 00:22:58,586 The only words that came out of his mouth was, 386 00:22:58,586 --> 00:23:02,046 "You tried to run. My family was in the car. You mother(BLEEP)!" 387 00:23:02,089 --> 00:23:04,419 He never was like, "You know, I’ll shoot you." 388 00:23:04,425 --> 00:23:06,685 He was nothing like that. 389 00:23:06,719 --> 00:23:09,679 If this goes to trial, are you willing to go to trial 390 00:23:09,722 --> 00:23:12,892 and go on the stand and tell your side of the story? 391 00:23:12,933 --> 00:23:14,433 -Yeah. -Okay. Thank you. 392 00:23:14,518 --> 00:23:17,188 -I appreciate that. -Definitely. 393 00:23:17,229 --> 00:23:20,109 ERIC: Unfortunately, the witness did not see 394 00:23:20,190 --> 00:23:24,778 Mr. Lee actually shoot any firearm. 395 00:23:24,778 --> 00:23:29,868 But what’s important is that aggravated assault, that’s one of the main charges. 396 00:23:29,909 --> 00:23:33,039 So when you have a witness that can testify, 397 00:23:33,078 --> 00:23:35,908 and state that he did not hear anything of that nature, 398 00:23:35,956 --> 00:23:37,456 no threats were made, 399 00:23:37,458 --> 00:23:39,208 that stands out a lot. 400 00:23:39,251 --> 00:23:41,291 It’s very big for the defense side. 401 00:23:47,384 --> 00:23:49,144 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 402 00:23:53,807 --> 00:23:56,437 LISA: So I had my private investigator, Eric, speak to the witness, 403 00:23:56,477 --> 00:24:00,057 and he clearly says Bryan is not hostile whatsoever. 404 00:24:01,315 --> 00:24:03,317 However, I received some new evidence 405 00:24:03,317 --> 00:24:04,817 that just came in from the prosecution, 406 00:24:04,902 --> 00:24:06,946 and that could be incredibly damaging 407 00:24:06,946 --> 00:24:08,156 to how the jury perceive him. 408 00:24:10,991 --> 00:24:13,661 So this is a call that you made to Kathleen 409 00:24:13,744 --> 00:24:17,331 from the night police arrested you just after you were booked. 410 00:24:17,331 --> 00:24:19,831 The state attorney just sent me a copy of this, 411 00:24:19,917 --> 00:24:21,497 and I think that they plan on using it 412 00:24:21,502 --> 00:24:24,132 to really paint this as a road rage incident, right? 413 00:24:24,171 --> 00:24:26,421 It’s rage. It’s anger. It’s hostile. 414 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,980 You’re referring to him as a dirtbag. 415 00:24:44,024 --> 00:24:46,026 Some of the jurors might kind of find that strong. 416 00:24:46,026 --> 00:24:48,526 The state’s going to play on that, that you’re angry. 417 00:24:48,529 --> 00:24:51,319 I mean, I am livid, but I haven’t kicked his door in. 418 00:24:51,865 --> 00:24:53,525 Um, okay. 419 00:24:56,328 --> 00:24:57,498 (KATHLEEN SPEAKING) 420 00:24:58,664 --> 00:25:00,964 (BRYAN SPEAKING) 421 00:25:03,210 --> 00:25:06,380 Right here, "I know the law’s, uh, all sorts of funky." 422 00:25:06,380 --> 00:25:10,340 -Why did you say that? -It’s just cops are worthless. 423 00:25:10,384 --> 00:25:12,974 You never get anything good out of the legal system unless you’re a criminal. 424 00:25:14,972 --> 00:25:16,392 But when you start 425 00:25:16,515 --> 00:25:19,555 then poking holes, "Oh, the police didn’t do anything." 426 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:23,230 Anybody that that doesn’t sit well with, that’s gonna tip the scales 427 00:25:23,230 --> 00:25:24,980 in the other guy’s favor and not yours. 428 00:25:25,024 --> 00:25:26,024 Does that make sense? 429 00:25:28,402 --> 00:25:32,242 (BRYAN SPEAKING) 430 00:25:32,322 --> 00:25:33,492 Explain that. 431 00:25:33,532 --> 00:25:35,532 That’s basically me thinking 432 00:25:35,576 --> 00:25:38,076 my life is in the hands of the American justice system, 433 00:25:38,162 --> 00:25:40,542 and I don’t think they do a very good job, 434 00:25:40,581 --> 00:25:43,251 so I’m probably screwed. 435 00:25:44,543 --> 00:25:47,593 Okay, we’re gonna have to work on how that gets... 436 00:25:47,671 --> 00:25:50,421 because again, I don’t want you saying that on the stand 437 00:25:50,424 --> 00:25:55,224 because that system is right there playing out, and we need it to work. 438 00:25:55,262 --> 00:25:57,722 But if you call them out on the fact that they’re not capable 439 00:25:57,765 --> 00:26:01,605 of doing the right thing, then we don’t stand a chance. 440 00:26:01,685 --> 00:26:04,765 Ultimately, it’s always gonna be your decision, whether or not you testify. 441 00:26:04,772 --> 00:26:09,572 However, if you do testify, you’ve got to be aware of 442 00:26:09,610 --> 00:26:11,780 how you express yourself. 443 00:26:11,862 --> 00:26:14,282 I’m pretty confident that I’ll be able to. 444 00:26:14,364 --> 00:26:17,374 -To maintain your cool? -Not even just to maintain my cool, 445 00:26:17,409 --> 00:26:20,449 but to counteract whatever bull(BLEEP) the state throws at me. 446 00:26:22,915 --> 00:26:25,635 LISA: Anytime we have an accused who’s angry or loud, 447 00:26:25,709 --> 00:26:28,299 the prosecution’s gonna go to town on that. 448 00:26:28,378 --> 00:26:30,548 His word choice sometimes, 449 00:26:30,589 --> 00:26:33,879 um, might be offensive to some jurors. 450 00:26:33,967 --> 00:26:35,387 They may be more inclined to think 451 00:26:35,427 --> 00:26:36,967 he’s reckless and aggressive. 452 00:26:36,970 --> 00:26:39,470 So that’s where the, uh, the risk comes in. 453 00:26:43,060 --> 00:26:45,060 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 454 00:26:52,152 --> 00:26:56,490 LISA: I’m feeling confident, yet there’s so many unknowns. 455 00:26:56,490 --> 00:26:58,158 I think, Bryan’s looking forward 456 00:26:58,158 --> 00:27:00,828 to be able to truly tell his side of the story now 457 00:27:00,911 --> 00:27:03,791 in front of the jury, and prove his innocence. 458 00:27:07,501 --> 00:27:08,751 JUDGE: Parties may be seated, thanks. 459 00:27:11,088 --> 00:27:14,338 We are on the record, The State of Florida v. Bryan Anthony Lee. 460 00:27:23,308 --> 00:27:26,186 In just a moment, the attorneys will give an opening statement. 461 00:27:26,186 --> 00:27:27,846 Do listen closely to their arguments, 462 00:27:27,855 --> 00:27:29,022 they’re intended to give you an aid 463 00:27:29,022 --> 00:27:30,357 or a guide as to what they believe 464 00:27:30,357 --> 00:27:33,026 the evidence will show or fail to show. 465 00:27:33,026 --> 00:27:34,856 Miss Jones, whenever you’re ready. 466 00:27:34,862 --> 00:27:37,452 Rodney Tello was driving to his friend’s house. 467 00:27:37,489 --> 00:27:38,949 He was involved in a car accident. 468 00:27:38,991 --> 00:27:40,531 As a result of that car accident, 469 00:27:40,617 --> 00:27:43,037 Mr. Bryan Lee got out of his car 470 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:44,830 to confront Rodney Tello, 471 00:27:44,872 --> 00:27:47,372 takes out a semi-automatic firearm, 472 00:27:47,457 --> 00:27:50,787 and says, "Stop or I will shoot you." 473 00:27:50,836 --> 00:27:54,706 He then proceeds to shoot several rounds at the car. 474 00:27:54,715 --> 00:27:56,845 At the conclusion of this trial, 475 00:27:56,884 --> 00:27:58,184 I’m confident that you will find 476 00:27:58,218 --> 00:28:00,218 the defendant guilty as charged. 477 00:28:03,473 --> 00:28:06,560 Bryan Lee did what he had been trained to do, to disable the vehicle 478 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:09,810 so that no one else’s life could be in danger. 479 00:28:09,855 --> 00:28:11,485 Now, the State’s gonna try to paint a picture 480 00:28:11,523 --> 00:28:15,068 that this was some sort of a road rage incident. 481 00:28:15,068 --> 00:28:17,568 You’re gonna see that the only road-rager, 482 00:28:17,571 --> 00:28:20,407 the only reckless driver was Rodney Tello. 483 00:28:20,407 --> 00:28:22,237 Once you see the evidence in this case, 484 00:28:22,367 --> 00:28:25,037 you’ll understand why Mr. Lee is simply not guilty. 485 00:28:25,078 --> 00:28:26,747 JUDGE: Thank you, Miss Figueroa. 486 00:28:26,747 --> 00:28:27,867 Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, 487 00:28:27,915 --> 00:28:29,545 we are going to recess for the day, 488 00:28:29,583 --> 00:28:31,583 and we will see you tomorrow at 10:15. 489 00:28:33,921 --> 00:28:37,261 We had opening statements just after jury selection. 490 00:28:37,341 --> 00:28:41,386 It’s still kind of hard to read where the jury’s head is at. 491 00:28:41,386 --> 00:28:43,426 Tomorrow, the state is planning on putting on 492 00:28:43,430 --> 00:28:47,060 the star witness, their alleged victim. 493 00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:51,020 So making sure that the jury sees all the inconsistencies, 494 00:28:51,063 --> 00:28:52,693 it’s gonna be make-or-break for this case. 495 00:29:00,572 --> 00:29:03,116 So today the state is gonna put on its witnesses, 496 00:29:03,116 --> 00:29:05,076 starting with the alleged victim. 497 00:29:05,118 --> 00:29:07,948 I am really worried about how Bryan’s gonna react. 498 00:29:07,955 --> 00:29:11,255 It is really important for him to contain 499 00:29:11,291 --> 00:29:15,461 his frustration and anger because any wrong gesture 500 00:29:15,545 --> 00:29:18,585 could negatively impact how the jury sees this case. 501 00:29:20,467 --> 00:29:23,087 JUDGE: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back. 502 00:29:23,136 --> 00:29:24,756 State, you may call your first witness. 503 00:29:24,805 --> 00:29:27,565 Yes, Your Honor. At this time, the State would call Rodney Tello. 504 00:29:35,148 --> 00:29:38,648 PROSECUTOR: What were you doing on December 26th of 2021? 505 00:29:38,652 --> 00:29:41,822 I was, uh, participating in a golf tournament. 506 00:29:41,822 --> 00:29:43,162 I left in my vehicle. 507 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:44,240 PROSECUTOR: What color is it? 508 00:29:44,992 --> 00:29:46,582 Blue. 509 00:29:46,618 --> 00:29:49,328 What color was the vehicle that Mr. Lee was driving? 510 00:29:49,413 --> 00:29:50,663 RODNEY: White. 511 00:29:50,747 --> 00:29:52,497 PROSECUTOR: Were you involved in a car accident? 512 00:29:52,582 --> 00:29:53,667 RODNEY: Yes. 513 00:29:53,667 --> 00:29:54,667 What happened next? 514 00:29:55,752 --> 00:29:58,512 Mr. Lee was shouting at me. 515 00:29:58,588 --> 00:30:01,668 And he said, "Stop or I’ll shoot you mother(BLEEP)!" 516 00:30:02,676 --> 00:30:04,086 Then he shot. 517 00:30:04,136 --> 00:30:06,096 I heard three rounds. 518 00:30:06,138 --> 00:30:08,428 PROSECUTOR: Did you hear Mr. Lee call you a racial slur? 519 00:30:08,473 --> 00:30:10,103 RODNEY: Yes, I did. 520 00:30:10,142 --> 00:30:12,142 He called me a stupid (BLEEP). 521 00:30:15,105 --> 00:30:18,985 PROSECUTOR: How did you feel when he fired these shots at you? 522 00:30:19,651 --> 00:30:20,941 Scared. 523 00:30:20,986 --> 00:30:22,526 PROSECUTOR: No further questions, Your Honor. 524 00:30:23,322 --> 00:30:24,782 JUDGE: Cross examination. 525 00:30:24,823 --> 00:30:27,703 You said you were at a golf tournament all that day. 526 00:30:27,784 --> 00:30:29,454 Is there drinking going on? 527 00:30:29,494 --> 00:30:31,544 RODNEY: I had two drinks while I was playing. 528 00:30:32,873 --> 00:30:35,667 Do you recall me interviewing you 529 00:30:35,667 --> 00:30:39,207 and asking you about whether or not you had been drinking that day? 530 00:30:39,296 --> 00:30:40,506 RODNEY: I remember the interview. 531 00:30:41,548 --> 00:30:42,668 I said no. 532 00:30:42,716 --> 00:30:44,836 LISA: And that was an interview, 533 00:30:44,885 --> 00:30:47,305 deposition that was done under oath. Correct? 534 00:30:48,347 --> 00:30:52,307 Um, I believe, I believe so. Yeah. 535 00:30:52,351 --> 00:30:55,811 So, Mr. Tello, leading up to the crash, 536 00:30:55,854 --> 00:30:58,064 did you hit his car into oncoming traffic? 537 00:30:59,066 --> 00:31:00,686 No. He hit me. 538 00:31:01,902 --> 00:31:04,402 Okay. And after the events of the crash, 539 00:31:04,529 --> 00:31:08,319 you testified that Mr. Lee tells you, 540 00:31:08,408 --> 00:31:11,488 I’m gonna shoot you, m-f-er. Is that what you said? 541 00:31:11,536 --> 00:31:14,246 RODNEY: He said, "Stop or I’ll shoot you mother(BLEEP)." 542 00:31:14,331 --> 00:31:16,421 LISA: You didn’t say that on the 911 call, did you? 543 00:31:17,876 --> 00:31:18,916 No. 544 00:31:20,712 --> 00:31:23,382 So the alleged victim now claims that this is somehow 545 00:31:23,423 --> 00:31:26,053 a racial thing, which it never was. 546 00:31:26,093 --> 00:31:27,893 I’m not sure how the jury’s reading it, 547 00:31:27,928 --> 00:31:30,178 but if they really can see the inconsistencies 548 00:31:30,222 --> 00:31:33,602 and the lies throughout, then I am confident 549 00:31:33,683 --> 00:31:36,443 that the jury is going to believe Bryan’s version of events. 550 00:31:38,021 --> 00:31:40,021 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 551 00:31:43,777 --> 00:31:47,947 -Did you, um, arrest Mr. Lee because of a car accident? -No. 552 00:31:47,948 --> 00:31:51,778 -Why did you arrest him? -Um, for shooting at a vehicle. 553 00:31:51,785 --> 00:31:54,788 As you spoke with Mr. Tello, did you suspect or detect 554 00:31:54,788 --> 00:31:56,868 -the odor of alcohol? -No. 555 00:31:56,915 --> 00:31:58,705 Defense, cross. 556 00:31:58,750 --> 00:32:01,090 Um, alcohol actually doesn’t have an odor. 557 00:32:01,128 --> 00:32:02,796 -Is that correct? -Yes. 558 00:32:02,796 --> 00:32:05,796 LISA: Did you ever specifically ask Mr. Tello 559 00:32:05,882 --> 00:32:08,132 -if he’d been drinking? -No. 560 00:32:08,135 --> 00:32:09,970 Did he ever indicate anything 561 00:32:09,970 --> 00:32:13,306 -about any racial slur? -No. 562 00:32:13,306 --> 00:32:14,966 All right. I don’t have anything further. Thank you. 563 00:32:24,985 --> 00:32:27,155 LISA: Putting Bryan on the stand is a huge gamble 564 00:32:27,237 --> 00:32:29,987 because the prosecutor is gonna come at him 565 00:32:29,990 --> 00:32:31,990 and focus on the fact 566 00:32:31,992 --> 00:32:34,492 that he took the law into his own hands. 567 00:32:34,494 --> 00:32:37,624 And I really just don’t know how he’s going to respond 568 00:32:37,664 --> 00:32:39,084 when she comes at him like that 569 00:32:39,833 --> 00:32:41,583 Miss Figueroa. 570 00:32:41,626 --> 00:32:43,626 LISA: Your Honor, at this time, the defense would call Bryan Lee. 571 00:32:46,339 --> 00:32:49,468 Where were you going that, that evening? 572 00:32:49,468 --> 00:32:51,428 I was on my way to dinner with my family. 573 00:32:51,428 --> 00:32:55,008 We noticed Mr. Tello, 574 00:32:55,015 --> 00:32:57,315 he was driving pretty erratically. 575 00:32:57,350 --> 00:32:59,140 LISA: What was your main concern? 576 00:32:59,186 --> 00:33:01,516 My intent was to not let this 577 00:33:01,605 --> 00:33:04,107 malicious, presumably intoxicated man 578 00:33:04,107 --> 00:33:07,527 continue to drive his car in such a dangerous manner. 579 00:33:07,611 --> 00:33:12,821 LISA: Do you have any particular training with the use of firearms? 580 00:33:12,866 --> 00:33:14,776 I do have pistol marksmanship training. 581 00:33:14,826 --> 00:33:18,786 LISA: And did you apply that particular insight 582 00:33:18,830 --> 00:33:22,040 and training in this circumstance? 583 00:33:22,042 --> 00:33:23,842 BRYAN: I did, every bit of it. 584 00:33:23,877 --> 00:33:26,546 LISA: Why did you not shoot anywhere else? 585 00:33:26,546 --> 00:33:30,006 Um, I knew that I had to disable this car 586 00:33:30,050 --> 00:33:32,340 and by shooting the back rear tire, 587 00:33:32,385 --> 00:33:34,845 I assessed that would be the best option. 588 00:33:34,888 --> 00:33:37,218 -Did you threaten him? -I did not threaten him. 589 00:33:37,224 --> 00:33:39,984 And did you call him any racial slur? 590 00:33:40,852 --> 00:33:42,352 I did not. 591 00:33:42,395 --> 00:33:45,015 All right. Thank you. I don’t have any further questions. 592 00:33:45,065 --> 00:33:46,905 JUDGE: Thank you. Cross examination? 593 00:33:46,983 --> 00:33:47,983 PROSECUTOR: Yes, Your Honor. 594 00:33:51,363 --> 00:33:52,913 Are you a sworn law enforcement officer 595 00:33:52,989 --> 00:33:55,199 -in Osceola County, Florida, Mr. Lee? -BRYAN: I’m not. 596 00:33:57,035 --> 00:34:00,575 -You crossed the street with your firearm? -Yes. 597 00:34:00,580 --> 00:34:03,580 You pointed the firearm at Mr. Tello’s vehicle, 598 00:34:03,583 --> 00:34:05,173 and you fired. Correct? 599 00:34:06,586 --> 00:34:09,006 BRYAN: Not immediately. Escalation of force. 600 00:34:09,089 --> 00:34:10,669 I tried without the gun. 601 00:34:10,715 --> 00:34:12,175 I tried with the gun in hand. 602 00:34:12,217 --> 00:34:14,507 Those weren’t working, so... 603 00:34:14,553 --> 00:34:16,763 So you have the authority to tell Mr. Tello 604 00:34:16,888 --> 00:34:18,678 to stop driving his vehicle. Correct? 605 00:34:20,767 --> 00:34:21,767 BRYAN: I’d say so. 606 00:34:22,561 --> 00:34:25,438 (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING) 607 00:34:25,438 --> 00:34:27,938 -Not a law enforcement officer. -Not a law enforcement officer. 608 00:34:29,776 --> 00:34:30,936 PROSECUTOR: No further questions. 609 00:34:32,946 --> 00:34:34,946 LISA: I think that Bryan did a good job, 610 00:34:35,031 --> 00:34:36,911 however, the prosecution says, 611 00:34:36,950 --> 00:34:38,450 "Do you think you had the authority?" 612 00:34:38,535 --> 00:34:39,955 And he says, "Yes." 613 00:34:41,621 --> 00:34:45,251 What he really meant to say is that he felt a duty to do it, 614 00:34:45,292 --> 00:34:48,292 rather than this authority. 615 00:34:48,295 --> 00:34:50,425 That I’m gonna have some cleaning up to do. 616 00:34:58,305 --> 00:34:59,815 All rise for the jury, please. 617 00:35:05,895 --> 00:35:07,975 Can you tell us why you called 911? 618 00:35:08,064 --> 00:35:14,154 Um, I saw a blue car hit the back of a white car 619 00:35:14,237 --> 00:35:17,907 and it spun to the other side of the road. 620 00:35:17,907 --> 00:35:21,827 LISA: So the blue car pushed the white car into oncoming traffic. 621 00:35:22,329 --> 00:35:23,659 Yes. 622 00:35:23,663 --> 00:35:26,463 And, um, at any point, did law enforcement 623 00:35:26,499 --> 00:35:28,668 get a statement from you about what you saw? 624 00:35:28,668 --> 00:35:29,788 -No. -LISA: Okay. 625 00:35:29,836 --> 00:35:30,836 Nothing further. Thank you. 626 00:35:32,505 --> 00:35:34,505 Defense would call Dakota Gill. 627 00:35:38,303 --> 00:35:41,143 Just walk us through what you saw or what you observed. 628 00:35:41,181 --> 00:35:44,517 The dark-colored SUV hit the back of the white car 629 00:35:44,517 --> 00:35:47,847 and pushed it into, like a ditch. 630 00:35:47,854 --> 00:35:51,824 LISA: Did you see anyone attempt to leave the scene? 631 00:35:51,858 --> 00:35:53,818 The dark-colored SUV. 632 00:35:53,860 --> 00:35:57,990 -Did you overhear any threats? -No, ma’am. 633 00:35:58,031 --> 00:36:00,371 Okay. I have nothing further. 634 00:36:00,450 --> 00:36:03,620 All through this process, the prosecution keeps painting this, 635 00:36:03,662 --> 00:36:05,872 that Bryan manufactured this whole thing 636 00:36:05,872 --> 00:36:07,672 and that he started the crash, 637 00:36:07,707 --> 00:36:09,627 but we have independent witnesses 638 00:36:09,668 --> 00:36:12,298 that clearly state that the alleged victim 639 00:36:12,337 --> 00:36:15,047 was the one who pushed Bryan into oncoming traffic, 640 00:36:15,131 --> 00:36:16,671 and that’s what made it so dangerous. 641 00:36:22,305 --> 00:36:23,345 PROSECUTOR: Members of the jury, 642 00:36:23,348 --> 00:36:26,558 we only have to prove these charges. 643 00:36:26,643 --> 00:36:29,562 Shooting at, within, or into an occupied vehicle 644 00:36:29,562 --> 00:36:32,362 and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 645 00:36:32,399 --> 00:36:34,319 We don’t have to prove, for example, 646 00:36:34,359 --> 00:36:36,149 who caused a car accident, 647 00:36:36,194 --> 00:36:37,824 and we don’t even have to prove 648 00:36:37,862 --> 00:36:40,202 who was or may not have been intoxicated. 649 00:36:40,240 --> 00:36:44,540 The defendant himself told you that he shot a firearm 650 00:36:44,577 --> 00:36:45,907 at Mr. Tello’s vehicle, 651 00:36:45,995 --> 00:36:48,405 and that it was done intentionally. 652 00:36:48,415 --> 00:36:51,385 Another thing that you may wanna consider is that Mr. Lee told you 653 00:36:51,418 --> 00:36:53,998 that he did not call Mr. Tello a racial slur. 654 00:36:54,045 --> 00:36:55,755 So let’s take a little listen. 655 00:37:01,052 --> 00:37:04,262 The defendant clearly says, "You stupid (BLEEP)." 656 00:37:05,724 --> 00:37:08,524 He told you he didn’t do that. 657 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:12,400 So if he was to lie to you about that, what else is he lying about? 658 00:37:12,439 --> 00:37:14,229 I’m gonna ask that you find the defendant guilty 659 00:37:14,274 --> 00:37:16,614 as charged on all counts. Thank you. 660 00:37:21,614 --> 00:37:23,616 Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, 661 00:37:23,616 --> 00:37:25,906 this case boils down to credibility. 662 00:37:25,952 --> 00:37:28,872 Mr. Tello simply is not credible. 663 00:37:28,913 --> 00:37:30,753 His story is completely contradicted 664 00:37:30,790 --> 00:37:34,790 by independent witnesses who called 911 right away. 665 00:37:34,794 --> 00:37:37,554 And unfortunately, law enforcement failed to follow up with them. 666 00:37:37,589 --> 00:37:40,879 Mr. Lee was asked, if he had the authority 667 00:37:40,925 --> 00:37:42,295 to do what he did. 668 00:37:42,385 --> 00:37:45,595 In that moment, what he felt was a sense of duty 669 00:37:45,638 --> 00:37:49,638 to act, to prevent any harm to any other person. 670 00:37:49,726 --> 00:37:53,596 The only true and legal rightful verdict in this case is not guilty. 671 00:38:10,580 --> 00:38:12,670 LISA: All of a sudden, in their final closing argument 672 00:38:12,749 --> 00:38:14,079 the prosecution bring up the fact 673 00:38:14,125 --> 00:38:17,625 that what they think they heard was the racial slur. 674 00:38:17,629 --> 00:38:20,259 Bryan insists that it was just an expletive, 675 00:38:20,298 --> 00:38:22,628 not anything having to do with race. 676 00:38:22,675 --> 00:38:25,505 I can’t call Bryan back on the stand at this point. 677 00:38:25,595 --> 00:38:29,685 We just have to hope the jury can tell that that is not what he said. 678 00:38:31,851 --> 00:38:33,141 Right now, everything’s on the line. 679 00:38:33,186 --> 00:38:35,016 If they come back, guilty as charged, 680 00:38:35,021 --> 00:38:36,481 he could face up to 20 years. 681 00:38:37,982 --> 00:38:41,612 Oh, I’m pretty, pretty anxious right now. 682 00:38:41,653 --> 00:38:44,993 Whole life’s relying on six people I never met before. 683 00:38:51,496 --> 00:38:53,656 Members of the jury, the court has been made aware 684 00:38:53,706 --> 00:38:55,366 that you have reached a verdict. 685 00:38:56,167 --> 00:38:57,537 FOREPERSON: Yes, Your Honor. 686 00:38:57,544 --> 00:39:00,380 State of Florida v. Bryan Anthony Lee. 687 00:39:00,380 --> 00:39:05,718 Verdict as to count one, shooting at, within, or into an occupied vehicle, 688 00:39:05,718 --> 00:39:07,678 we, the jury, find the defendant... 689 00:39:09,389 --> 00:39:10,559 guilty. 690 00:39:12,559 --> 00:39:14,889 Verdict as to count two. 691 00:39:14,978 --> 00:39:17,398 Guilty of the lesser included offense 692 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:21,067 of improper exhibition of a firearm. 693 00:39:21,067 --> 00:39:22,897 Verdict as to count three. 694 00:39:22,986 --> 00:39:26,736 Guilty of improper exhibition of a firearm 695 00:39:26,739 --> 00:39:28,819 as charged in the information. 696 00:39:48,678 --> 00:39:51,428 JUDGE: The Jury has made a determination. 697 00:39:51,514 --> 00:39:54,184 Mr. Lee is going to be taken into custody. 698 00:40:02,275 --> 00:40:04,365 I’ll keep an open mind, uh, regarding sentencing. 699 00:40:04,402 --> 00:40:06,202 Um... That’ll conclude our trial. 700 00:40:10,199 --> 00:40:11,949 LISA: I feel for Bryan and his family. 701 00:40:13,536 --> 00:40:15,196 He really thought he was doing the right thing. 702 00:40:16,873 --> 00:40:19,463 The judge has a lot of latitude in the sentencing. 703 00:40:20,418 --> 00:40:22,458 So I do have a glimmer of hope 704 00:40:22,462 --> 00:40:24,382 because he was clear 705 00:40:24,422 --> 00:40:26,922 that he would keep an open mind, and that is significant. 706 00:40:33,932 --> 00:40:35,932 (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) 707 00:40:41,439 --> 00:40:43,319 BAILIFF: Come to order, the court is back in session. 708 00:40:44,943 --> 00:40:47,820 JUDGE: Mr. Lee is here for sentencing. He was found guilty 709 00:40:47,820 --> 00:40:50,949 by a jury of shooting at, within or into an occupied vehicle. 710 00:40:50,949 --> 00:40:52,489 That’s a second-degree felony. 711 00:40:52,492 --> 00:40:56,292 And improper exhibition of a firearm 712 00:40:56,329 --> 00:40:58,619 as a lesser included defense 713 00:40:58,665 --> 00:41:02,795 and a similar charge of improper exhibition of a firearm in count three. 714 00:41:15,014 --> 00:41:19,444 State is often faced with, uh, difficult situations and decisions. 715 00:41:19,477 --> 00:41:21,597 One category is unreasonable people 716 00:41:21,646 --> 00:41:23,186 making unreasonable decisions. 717 00:41:23,272 --> 00:41:26,025 The second category is reasonable people 718 00:41:26,025 --> 00:41:29,855 uh, making a momentary unreasonable decision, 719 00:41:29,862 --> 00:41:32,282 I felt from the presentation of the evidence 720 00:41:32,323 --> 00:41:36,873 that, uh, Mr. Lee, uh, falls into the second category. 721 00:41:36,953 --> 00:41:39,713 But he was found guilty of a second-degree felony. 722 00:41:42,709 --> 00:41:45,999 I’m gonna sentence you to 30 days in the Osceola County Jail. 723 00:41:46,045 --> 00:41:49,545 As to count two, you are adjudicated guilty, 724 00:41:49,549 --> 00:41:51,879 which is the second-degree misdemeanor. 725 00:41:52,010 --> 00:41:54,470 You’re sentenced to seven days with credit for seven days. 726 00:42:04,063 --> 00:42:05,398 I’m hopeful that these are not 727 00:42:05,398 --> 00:42:07,358 life-changing consequences. Good luck to you, sir. 728 00:42:13,573 --> 00:42:14,573 I love you, Dad. 729 00:42:18,244 --> 00:42:20,584 MITCH: Obviously overwhelmed, um... 730 00:42:20,663 --> 00:42:24,253 I’m thankful that the judge did show compassion, um... 731 00:42:24,333 --> 00:42:26,043 It’s not exactly what we wanted. 732 00:42:26,085 --> 00:42:28,835 But it’s way better than what they were trying to throw at him. 733 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:31,758 So, um, I’m thankful for that. 734 00:42:31,758 --> 00:42:33,718 LISA: I think it’s definitely heartbreaking for Bryan 735 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:37,100 to accept the fact that he’s now a convicted felon. 736 00:42:37,180 --> 00:42:39,520 But ultimately the most important thing to him 737 00:42:39,557 --> 00:42:41,767 was knowing that he would be able to return to his family, 738 00:42:41,851 --> 00:42:43,441 and now he’s gonna be able to do that. 739 00:42:43,603 --> 00:42:46,063 And I’m confident that he’s gonna be able to find a way forward.