1
00:00:15,258 --> 00:00:17,618
[news anchor]
The murder of Notorious
B. I. G.,
2
00:00:17,661 --> 00:00:20,331
it remains one of the biggest
mysteries in hip-hop.
3
00:00:20,363 --> 00:00:23,303
[Voletta] Someone
murdered my son,
4
00:00:23,333 --> 00:00:26,873
and the LAPD knew
all about it.
5
00:00:31,474 --> 00:00:34,244
It was a bombshell that
dirty cops
6
00:00:34,277 --> 00:00:37,217
may have been involved
in Biggie’s murder.
7
00:00:37,247 --> 00:00:40,987
The repercussions for the LAPD
are unimaginable,
8
00:00:41,017 --> 00:00:43,427
that the LAPD would have
to basically dissolve.
9
00:00:43,453 --> 00:00:46,723
There’s a $400 million
civil lawsuit
on the line here.
10
00:00:46,756 --> 00:00:51,796
Anybody that says that
that does not
come into play is a fool.
11
00:01:07,711 --> 00:01:10,811
[cheering and applause]
12
00:01:14,150 --> 00:01:15,480
[Puffy] B. I. G., wake up.
13
00:01:15,518 --> 00:01:17,748
[Biggie] I’m up, Diddy.
What the [bleep], man?
What’s up?
14
00:01:17,787 --> 00:01:19,297
[Puffy] Come on now,
it’s quarter to 6:00.
15
00:01:19,322 --> 00:01:21,862
We got the 7:30 flight
leaving Kennedy...
16
00:01:21,891 --> 00:01:23,791
-[Biggie] Kennedy.
-[Puffy] ...going to LAX.
17
00:01:23,827 --> 00:01:25,367
[Biggie] Oh, Cali?
18
00:01:25,395 --> 00:01:26,935
[Puffy] No doubt, baby.
19
00:01:28,331 --> 00:01:29,761
Biggie wanted to go
to the West Coast
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00:01:29,799 --> 00:01:32,369
because he was wrapping up
his album, Life After Death.
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00:01:32,402 --> 00:01:36,102
♪ I’m going, going, back, back
To Cali, Cali ♪
22
00:01:36,139 --> 00:01:37,669
♪ Going back to Cali ♪
23
00:01:37,707 --> 00:01:40,677
And Puffy wanted to start
doing, like,
some early promo for him.
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00:01:40,710 --> 00:01:42,010
And B. I. G. loved LA.
25
00:01:42,045 --> 00:01:44,245
He loved the whole vibe
of California.
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00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,980
[radio jockey]
So it’s sunshine today,
60s all over the Bay Area.
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00:01:47,017 --> 00:01:48,957
Notorious B. I. G. is in studio.
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00:01:48,985 --> 00:01:51,325
Thank you right off the bat
for coming in.
29
00:01:51,354 --> 00:01:54,154
I’m just getting over,
you know, seeing this
whole situation
30
00:01:54,190 --> 00:01:56,060
with this East Coast,
West Coast thing, you know?
31
00:01:56,092 --> 00:01:57,862
-[radio jockey] Right.
-They was going through
their things
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00:01:57,894 --> 00:01:59,094
and we was
going through our things.
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00:01:59,129 --> 00:02:00,359
The tension was still high.
34
00:02:00,397 --> 00:02:03,337
You just lost one of the
greatest rappers
from the West Coast.
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00:02:03,366 --> 00:02:06,506
So B. I. G was really trying
to shift the energy as well
36
00:02:06,536 --> 00:02:08,706
and let them know, like,
"Yo, all this stuff
should be dead.
37
00:02:08,738 --> 00:02:10,168
I’m here to show love."
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00:02:10,206 --> 00:02:12,276
That just came over me,
you know what I’m saying,
39
00:02:12,308 --> 00:02:14,208
trying to like
basically squash it.
40
00:02:14,244 --> 00:02:17,684
Tupac fans were still
very angry about his death.
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00:02:17,714 --> 00:02:20,284
Emotions were still raw.
42
00:02:20,316 --> 00:02:22,656
Don’t have your people
in California.
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00:02:22,686 --> 00:02:24,026
It’s too early.
44
00:02:24,054 --> 00:02:28,324
"The audacity of Bad Boy
and Puffy to bring
Biggie to Los Angeles,
45
00:02:28,358 --> 00:02:32,898
and we’re still mourning
the death of Tupac,"
that’s what they felt.
46
00:02:33,530 --> 00:02:35,200
"Get the hell out of here."
47
00:02:40,270 --> 00:02:44,240
[Greg] Approximately
six months after the murder
of Tupac Shakur,
48
00:02:44,274 --> 00:02:47,774
Biggie Smalls, Puffy Combs,
other members
of Bad Boy Records
49
00:02:47,811 --> 00:02:51,681
were in Los Angeles to attend
the Soul Train Awards.
50
00:02:51,715 --> 00:02:55,555
And also, the following night,
there would be a party
at the Petersen Auto Museum.
51
00:02:59,589 --> 00:03:01,689
That’s the Petersen
Auto Museum.
52
00:03:01,725 --> 00:03:04,495
It looks much different today
than it did back then.
53
00:03:04,527 --> 00:03:07,367
It’s completely redone
on the outside.
54
00:03:08,898 --> 00:03:12,268
But, yeah, this is,
this is where it all happened.
55
00:03:20,410 --> 00:03:21,870
It was the awards weekend.
56
00:03:21,911 --> 00:03:24,281
It’s like an after-party
for the, for the awards.
57
00:03:24,314 --> 00:03:25,854
It was a great night.
58
00:03:25,882 --> 00:03:27,312
The energy was great.
59
00:03:32,956 --> 00:03:36,796
[Eugene] Prior to the party,
I had got some intel.
60
00:03:36,826 --> 00:03:38,766
I got a call from my friend.
61
00:03:38,795 --> 00:03:41,465
He was in the federal
penitentiary
out in California.
62
00:03:42,532 --> 00:03:44,202
And he says, "Vest up."
63
00:03:44,234 --> 00:03:48,174
I said... I told Puff, I said,
"Yo, Puff, I got some intel.
64
00:03:48,204 --> 00:03:50,544
Some people are gonna come
and try to kill us tonight."
65
00:03:50,573 --> 00:03:54,143
He said, "Gene, I don’t want
to hear that [bleep].
66
00:03:54,177 --> 00:03:55,947
You ain’t got to go
if you don’t want to go."
67
00:03:58,014 --> 00:04:03,284
But I couldn’t let those kids
go out knowing that
a threat is there.
68
00:04:06,089 --> 00:04:11,219
I couldn’t live with myself
knowing I didn’t try to do
anything.
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00:04:14,964 --> 00:04:16,934
[Greg] Hundreds and hundreds
of people are at this party.
70
00:04:16,966 --> 00:04:20,336
In fact, it’s so crowded
inside that the fire marshal
71
00:04:20,370 --> 00:04:23,340
comes and makes
the determination
that it’s unsafe.
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00:04:23,373 --> 00:04:25,103
The fire department came
and shut it down
73
00:04:25,141 --> 00:04:27,371
and everybody was going out
at the same time.
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00:04:27,410 --> 00:04:30,210
We grabbed B. I. G.
and we started heading
towards the door.
75
00:04:30,246 --> 00:04:33,356
We were just waiting
for the truck to pull up.
76
00:04:33,383 --> 00:04:36,753
Just imagine a bunch of people
over there, having a good time
77
00:04:36,786 --> 00:04:39,756
and walking around
and traffic’s congested
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00:04:39,789 --> 00:04:43,389
and everybody is waiting
for their turn to get out
into the street here.
79
00:04:43,426 --> 00:04:45,536
[horns honking]
80
00:04:51,334 --> 00:04:56,744
[Eugene] When we came outside,
I kept my weapon in my hand
at all times under my shirt.
81
00:04:56,773 --> 00:04:59,613
I’m just standing by
and Puff is in the car
right now.
82
00:05:03,613 --> 00:05:04,983
A guy...
83
00:05:07,317 --> 00:05:11,657
who dressed as he was
from the Nation of Islam,
blue suit, white shirt,
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00:05:11,688 --> 00:05:15,628
blue bow tie,
he was started getting
close to Puff’s car.
85
00:05:15,658 --> 00:05:17,888
When he saw me, he stopped.
86
00:05:27,871 --> 00:05:31,871
Even when he’s seen me put
my weapon down, he didn’t say,
87
00:05:31,908 --> 00:05:33,378
"What’s with the gun,
what’s with the weapon?"
88
00:05:33,409 --> 00:05:37,339
He didn’t say nothing.
He just walked away.
89
00:05:42,652 --> 00:05:45,452
So I’m on point
about them now.
90
00:05:46,556 --> 00:05:48,156
I’m thinking
there’s a problem.
91
00:05:52,328 --> 00:05:55,158
[Greg] The Bad Boy group
consisted of three vehicles,
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00:05:55,198 --> 00:05:57,408
two Suburbans
and a black Chevy Blazer.
93
00:05:57,433 --> 00:06:00,873
The first car had Puffy
and Eugene Deal, a driver
94
00:06:00,904 --> 00:06:02,704
and a couple of other guys
in there.
95
00:06:02,739 --> 00:06:07,339
And the second
vehicle containing Biggie
was driven by Gregory Young.
96
00:06:07,377 --> 00:06:09,217
Sitting behind Biggie was
Lil’ Cease,
97
00:06:09,245 --> 00:06:11,815
and then there was
a couple of other guys
in the back of that car.
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00:06:11,848 --> 00:06:15,458
And then the third car
was the security guys.
99
00:06:15,485 --> 00:06:17,925
So as they’re going northbound
on Fairfax here,
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00:06:17,954 --> 00:06:20,294
the vehicles are approaching
the intersection.
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00:06:21,591 --> 00:06:23,761
Well, I said, "Kenny,
run the next three lights!
102
00:06:24,894 --> 00:06:26,764
Run the next three lights,
Kenny!
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00:06:26,796 --> 00:06:27,896
Kenny said, "Why?"
104
00:06:27,931 --> 00:06:29,661
I say, "If you don’t want
to run it, I’m gonna drive!
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00:06:29,699 --> 00:06:32,869
Let me drive!"
Kenny just takes off.
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00:06:32,902 --> 00:06:36,772
[Greg] The vehicle with Puffy
in it goes through the light.
107
00:06:36,806 --> 00:06:41,976
The light begins to turn red
and the vehicle with Biggie
slows to come to a stop.
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00:06:43,513 --> 00:06:47,183
Just at that time,
a dark Impala pulls up
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00:06:47,216 --> 00:06:49,886
alongside the vehicle
that Biggie is in.
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00:06:49,919 --> 00:06:53,749
Once we get across the light,
Tone, he’s looking back,
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00:06:53,790 --> 00:06:58,460
he said, "Yo, somebody
is pointing a gun at B. I. G."
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00:06:58,494 --> 00:07:00,564
[Lil’ Cease]
And I was behind B. I. G.
He was in the passenger seat.
113
00:07:00,596 --> 00:07:03,236
And this car just rolled up
on the side of us
114
00:07:03,266 --> 00:07:05,406
and just started shooting
in the truck,
firing in the car.
115
00:07:05,435 --> 00:07:07,905
Pow!
Pow, pow, pow, pow!
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00:07:07,937 --> 00:07:09,247
[man 1] You know,
that is Biggie inside.
117
00:07:09,272 --> 00:07:10,742
-[man 2] Y’all get down.
-[man 1] That is B. I. G.
and them.
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00:07:10,773 --> 00:07:12,043
[woman] Somebody got shot
up in here.
119
00:07:12,075 --> 00:07:13,375
[man 2] Y’all get down.
120
00:07:14,243 --> 00:07:16,583
Kenny guns the car
going forward.
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00:07:16,612 --> 00:07:20,852
I’m screaming like,
"Kenny, turn this MF around."
122
00:07:20,883 --> 00:07:23,223
I said, "He’s shooting
at B. I. G., Kenny!"
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00:07:23,252 --> 00:07:27,092
[Greg] The Impala then quickly
makes a right onto
Wilshire Boulevard.
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00:07:27,123 --> 00:07:29,063
The security guy attempts
to give chase
125
00:07:29,092 --> 00:07:32,122
but the black Impala
has disappeared
into the night.
126
00:07:35,798 --> 00:07:39,868
We go forward and we stop
right in the middle,
in front of B. I. G.’s car.
127
00:07:39,902 --> 00:07:42,742
-[woman 1] Yo,
Biggie got shot!
-[Eugene] Puff!
128
00:07:43,740 --> 00:07:45,970
[man 1] Oh, no.
[bleep]
129
00:07:48,211 --> 00:07:49,541
[driver] Somebody’s dead!
130
00:07:50,146 --> 00:07:51,486
Somebody’s dead!
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00:07:51,514 --> 00:07:54,154
[911 operator] Okay, sir.
Did you see anything?
Who did it?
132
00:07:54,183 --> 00:07:57,183
After the shots stopped,
we all got out of the car
133
00:07:57,220 --> 00:08:00,250
and the only one car door
didn’t open was B. I. G.’s.
134
00:08:00,289 --> 00:08:02,859
He was just kind of
laying over the console.
135
00:08:02,892 --> 00:08:05,762
[caller] A man’s shot
in our car right now.
136
00:08:05,795 --> 00:08:09,305
We’re... now we’re
trying to roll him
to the hospital.
137
00:08:09,332 --> 00:08:12,132
We tried our best to get
to the hospital as fast as
we can, running lights.
138
00:08:12,168 --> 00:08:14,538
[horn honking]
139
00:08:14,570 --> 00:08:16,800
You know, we were just really
trying to get him there.
140
00:08:16,839 --> 00:08:19,209
[911 operator]
Sir, what I want you
to do is pull over.
141
00:08:19,242 --> 00:08:21,542
[caller] I can’t pull over.
We’re going to the hospital
right now.
142
00:08:21,577 --> 00:08:23,187
[911 operator] Okay,
what hospital are you going?
143
00:08:23,212 --> 00:08:25,112
[caller] I don’t know
what hospital,
I’m not from here.
144
00:08:25,148 --> 00:08:27,288
-[911 operator]
What lane are you in?
-[caller] I don’t know.
145
00:08:27,316 --> 00:08:28,926
[911 operator]
Listen, calm down.
146
00:08:28,951 --> 00:08:31,151
[caller] I don’t know
where the hell I’m
at right now.
147
00:08:31,187 --> 00:08:33,327
[911 operator] Okay,
that’s why I’m asking
you to pull over...
148
00:08:33,356 --> 00:08:34,626
[caller] [bleep]
What you doing?
149
00:08:34,657 --> 00:08:37,797
[Greg] Once they get
to the hospital,
they rush Biggie
150
00:08:37,827 --> 00:08:42,067
into the emergency room
and begin to try
to resuscitate him.
151
00:08:48,838 --> 00:08:52,108
[Eugene] And everybody’s
in the corridor
and Lil’ Cease says,
152
00:08:52,141 --> 00:08:58,441
"A Muslim shot B. I. G.,"
and he kept repeating that,
"A Muslim shot B. I. G."
153
00:08:59,282 --> 00:09:00,452
I looked and I said,
154
00:09:00,483 --> 00:09:03,123
"He had a blue suit,
white shirt,
and a blue bow tie?"
155
00:09:03,152 --> 00:09:07,592
And Paul said, "Yeah."
And they said,
"How do you know, Gene?"
156
00:09:07,623 --> 00:09:09,693
I said, "He walked
to Puff’s car first."
157
00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:15,160
So I’m wondering,
"Yo, this guy could be
the same guy."
158
00:09:15,198 --> 00:09:18,308
The way he looked at me,
the way he looked at Puff,
159
00:09:18,334 --> 00:09:20,434
then he walks
in that direction.
160
00:09:20,470 --> 00:09:25,170
And then five to nine minutes
later, B. I. G. was shot.
161
00:09:27,376 --> 00:09:31,486
[Greg] Unfortunately,
he was shot four times
and one of them fatal.
162
00:09:31,514 --> 00:09:36,624
That bullet pierced his heart
and he was pronounced dead
at approximately 1:15 a. m.
163
00:09:37,854 --> 00:09:39,654
[news anchor 1] Despite being
rushed to the hospital,
164
00:09:39,689 --> 00:09:41,849
Notorious B. I. G.
was pronounced dead
165
00:09:41,891 --> 00:09:43,861
at Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center.
166
00:09:44,827 --> 00:09:47,437
[Eugene] If we hadn’t stopped
at that light,
167
00:09:47,463 --> 00:09:50,863
those bullets would have been
meant for Puff.
168
00:09:52,835 --> 00:09:59,775
We ran the light and B. I. G.
was the one
who got the bullets.
169
00:10:05,982 --> 00:10:07,282
I live with that.
170
00:10:08,151 --> 00:10:09,951
Puff was my principal.
171
00:10:09,986 --> 00:10:11,556
He was my responsibility.
172
00:10:13,189 --> 00:10:14,419
Professionally...
173
00:10:16,459 --> 00:10:18,419
I’m glad I did my damn job.
174
00:10:23,633 --> 00:10:24,863
But...
175
00:10:27,236 --> 00:10:28,906
it messes me up
176
00:10:31,407 --> 00:10:34,747
that I had to see that kid
go down like that.
177
00:10:40,383 --> 00:10:46,753
I get angry because he told me
that he was going to, uh,
178
00:10:47,823 --> 00:10:49,223
to Atlanta.
179
00:10:49,258 --> 00:10:51,118
That’s where he was looking
for a house.
180
00:10:52,261 --> 00:10:55,931
We made plans together,
and I miss that.
181
00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,670
He should never have
gone to California.
182
00:11:01,070 --> 00:11:04,970
If he hadn’t gone, I’m sure
he would be alive today.
183
00:11:05,875 --> 00:11:07,745
He shouldn’t have gone there.
184
00:11:10,146 --> 00:11:11,846
[news anchor 2]
The initial reaction is that
185
00:11:11,881 --> 00:11:13,811
this could have been
a revenge killing.
186
00:11:13,849 --> 00:11:15,679
[police officer]
That’s just what it looks
like on the street.
187
00:11:15,718 --> 00:11:16,948
It looks like
it was a retaliation.
188
00:11:16,986 --> 00:11:18,026
[reporter] For what?
189
00:11:18,054 --> 00:11:19,424
[police officer]
For Tupac’s death.
190
00:11:19,455 --> 00:11:21,255
[Stephane] There’s no doubt
that people thought that
191
00:11:21,290 --> 00:11:24,590
Death Row and Suge Knight
had something to do
with Biggie’s murder.
192
00:11:24,627 --> 00:11:27,237
Tupac, their artist,
was taken.
193
00:11:27,263 --> 00:11:28,463
[police officer]
Given the fact that...
194
00:11:28,497 --> 00:11:30,807
that they were both gangsta
rap artists,
195
00:11:30,833 --> 00:11:34,333
naturally our people will be
contacting the Las Vegas
authorities
196
00:11:34,370 --> 00:11:36,500
to see if there’s any
connection in the two.
197
00:11:36,539 --> 00:11:40,669
I believe the best thing
we can do as far as preventing
any further violence
198
00:11:40,710 --> 00:11:44,110
or any paybacks on this
is solving this murder
as quickly as possible.
199
00:11:44,146 --> 00:11:47,356
[Greg] Even nine years later,
in 2006,
200
00:11:47,383 --> 00:11:52,493
when I began to investigate
the case, Biggie’s murder
was still shrouded
201
00:11:52,521 --> 00:11:54,691
in mystery and speculation.
202
00:11:54,724 --> 00:11:57,964
So, our goal was to get
outside of all the noise
203
00:11:57,994 --> 00:12:00,664
that had been surrounding
the case for years
204
00:12:00,696 --> 00:12:02,736
and through
all the conspiracy theory
205
00:12:02,765 --> 00:12:06,135
that the police department
was involved,
that the LAPD covered it up.
206
00:12:07,470 --> 00:12:10,300
In the course of me looking
at this case,
207
00:12:10,339 --> 00:12:14,709
I was trying to find out
if LAPD was involved
in orchestrating
208
00:12:14,744 --> 00:12:19,454
and committing this murder,
and the evidence,
it’s overwhelming.
209
00:12:26,222 --> 00:12:29,422
[news anchor 3] The mystery
surrounding the murder
of Notorious B. I. G.
210
00:12:29,458 --> 00:12:30,858
deepens every day.
211
00:12:30,893 --> 00:12:33,993
Los Angeles Police Department
have appealed for information
212
00:12:34,030 --> 00:12:37,030
from any witnesses
to the shooting
to come forward.
213
00:12:37,066 --> 00:12:38,566
I’m Randall Sullivan.
214
00:12:38,601 --> 00:12:40,431
I’m an author and journalist.
215
00:12:40,469 --> 00:12:46,039
I was asked to write a piece
about the police corruption
scandal in Los Angeles.
216
00:12:46,075 --> 00:12:48,875
That was how I found my way
to Russell Poole
217
00:12:48,911 --> 00:12:53,451
who was assigned at the time
to investigate the murder
of Notorious B. I. G.
218
00:12:55,518 --> 00:12:57,388
Now Russell Poole was
as straight an arrow
219
00:12:57,420 --> 00:12:59,920
as you will ever find
on the LAPD.
220
00:12:59,955 --> 00:13:02,195
The job meant
everything to him.
221
00:13:02,224 --> 00:13:04,964
[news anchor 4] Poole believes
that Death Row Records’ CEO
222
00:13:04,994 --> 00:13:08,034
Suge Knight gave the order
for Biggie’s murder.
223
00:13:08,064 --> 00:13:11,034
He is also certain that
Los Angeles police officers
224
00:13:11,067 --> 00:13:13,877
assisted Knight
in setting it up.
225
00:13:13,903 --> 00:13:18,203
Very quickly he got word
that there were a group
of police officers
226
00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:20,910
who were working for
Suge Knight, the head
of Death Row Records,
227
00:13:20,943 --> 00:13:23,583
and that they could be
connected to this.
228
00:13:23,612 --> 00:13:27,652
But the LAPD refused
to let him get
search warrants.
229
00:13:27,683 --> 00:13:29,723
They refused to let him
interview witnesses.
230
00:13:29,752 --> 00:13:32,592
They refused to let him
obtain forensic evidence.
231
00:13:32,621 --> 00:13:34,891
[news anchor 5]
Poole states
in a federal lawsuit
232
00:13:34,924 --> 00:13:38,724
that Chief Bernard Parks
shut his investigation down.
233
00:13:38,761 --> 00:13:41,131
There’s still so many
unanswered questions.
234
00:13:41,163 --> 00:13:44,633
Poole did become a pariah
within the LAPD
235
00:13:44,667 --> 00:13:46,907
because a lot
of the other cops felt,
236
00:13:46,936 --> 00:13:49,546
"You can see that
this is going to be
a problem for us all.
237
00:13:49,572 --> 00:13:51,302
You’re threatening
the whole department."
238
00:13:51,340 --> 00:13:53,210
And he wouldn’t shut up.
239
00:13:53,242 --> 00:13:57,242
And when all else failed,
he decided to submit
his resignation
240
00:13:57,279 --> 00:13:58,939
and decided
that he would sue them.
241
00:14:00,583 --> 00:14:03,583
I provided the chief
with enough, uh, information
242
00:14:03,619 --> 00:14:07,019
and evidence that would
warrant a full probe.
243
00:14:07,056 --> 00:14:12,836
And at that meeting,
I was ordered not to,
uh, investigate any further.
244
00:14:12,862 --> 00:14:14,062
He had...
245
00:14:14,096 --> 00:14:16,736
deeply held belief
that justice will finally
be done,
246
00:14:16,766 --> 00:14:18,036
the truth will come out.
247
00:14:18,067 --> 00:14:20,977
[Russell] I think
I was getting too close
to the truth.
248
00:14:21,003 --> 00:14:25,303
I think they feared that
the truth would be a scandal.
249
00:14:25,341 --> 00:14:27,571
But he was, you know,
being beaten back
250
00:14:27,610 --> 00:14:31,910
to an extraordinary degree
and he was broken.
251
00:14:31,947 --> 00:14:36,027
Russell Poole had never
wavered in his belief
that LAPD officers,
252
00:14:36,051 --> 00:14:39,491
David Mack and Rafael Perez,
were involved
in Biggie’s murder.
253
00:14:45,361 --> 00:14:48,991
I lost something
very, very special.
254
00:14:49,031 --> 00:14:54,071
There are friends out there
who lost, God,
a very nice human being.
255
00:14:56,338 --> 00:14:59,308
[Lil’ Cease] It was just
a great feeling just to see
all the people come out
256
00:14:59,341 --> 00:15:01,571
and show their true,
true love for him.
257
00:15:03,646 --> 00:15:07,616
People was on top of the cars,
on the fire escapes,
out their windows.
258
00:15:07,650 --> 00:15:10,750
So just to see all of them
people out there,
259
00:15:10,786 --> 00:15:13,756
on our old block
where we grew up at, you know,
260
00:15:13,789 --> 00:15:15,959
just a moment away
from the sadness.
261
00:15:17,159 --> 00:15:19,059
It definitely lifted us
because, you know,
262
00:15:19,094 --> 00:15:20,694
we was all going through
a lot at that time.
263
00:15:22,565 --> 00:15:23,865
[Voletta] They took a life.
264
00:15:25,501 --> 00:15:27,101
No, they didn’t take a life.
265
00:15:27,136 --> 00:15:28,406
They took lives.
266
00:15:29,839 --> 00:15:33,339
They ripped lives apart
whoever did it.
267
00:15:43,152 --> 00:15:44,922
[Phil] My name
is Phil Carson.
268
00:15:44,954 --> 00:15:47,394
I’m a retired FBI
special agent.
269
00:15:48,791 --> 00:15:51,561
I first got involved
in the Biggie Smalls case
270
00:15:51,594 --> 00:15:56,334
when I was working
other police corruption cases
that involved the LAPD.
271
00:15:56,365 --> 00:16:00,105
I was watching a documentary
on the case one night,
272
00:16:00,135 --> 00:16:03,245
and there was allegations
that there might have been
273
00:16:03,272 --> 00:16:05,742
some police corruption
involvement.
274
00:16:05,774 --> 00:16:09,384
And seeing how it took place
and in knowing
275
00:16:09,411 --> 00:16:13,981
how these police officers
were able to orchestrate
and pull off these crimes,
276
00:16:14,016 --> 00:16:18,756
I went and talked to my bosses
at the FBI and said,
"There’s something here."
277
00:16:18,787 --> 00:16:23,097
David Mack and Rafael Perez
were partners over
at the Rampart Division.
278
00:16:23,125 --> 00:16:27,035
They did do off-duty
police work
at Death Row Records,
279
00:16:27,062 --> 00:16:29,632
and they were known
Blood gang members.
280
00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,000
[Joe Cool] I saw Officer Perez
and Officer Mack
281
00:16:34,036 --> 00:16:36,476
at Death Row Records
several times.
282
00:16:36,505 --> 00:16:40,015
You’re making $50,000 a year,
45,000 a year and Suge Knight
283
00:16:40,042 --> 00:16:41,942
throwing you a little extra,
like double that,
284
00:16:41,977 --> 00:16:44,587
man, you’re gonna be like,
"Hell yeah,
I’ll work for you." Shh!
285
00:16:45,581 --> 00:16:47,051
Perez was there a lot.
286
00:16:47,082 --> 00:16:48,882
I knew he was police.
287
00:16:48,918 --> 00:16:52,388
I know that Suge had power
with LAPD.
288
00:16:52,421 --> 00:16:55,421
I know that he had power
with the [bleep].
289
00:16:55,457 --> 00:16:59,127
David Mack and Rafael Perez
were not only dirty cops,
290
00:16:59,161 --> 00:17:02,131
but they took it
to a whole ’nother level
that we have never seen.
291
00:17:06,969 --> 00:17:09,969
What really brought David Mack
into the Biggie investigation
292
00:17:10,005 --> 00:17:12,745
was him being arrested
for the bank robbery.
293
00:17:14,276 --> 00:17:18,846
In November of 1997,
David Mack robbed
the Bank of America branch
294
00:17:18,881 --> 00:17:23,121
in downtown Los Angeles
and opened up an
entire new avenue
295
00:17:23,152 --> 00:17:25,252
into the investigation
of Biggie’s murder.
296
00:17:25,287 --> 00:17:28,157
Mack walked in
with a TEC-9 pistol,
297
00:17:28,190 --> 00:17:30,620
which was like
a machine pistol,
under his coat,
298
00:17:30,659 --> 00:17:34,659
loaded $700,000 in cash
into duffel bags,
299
00:17:34,697 --> 00:17:37,107
carried them out,
while his two accomplices
300
00:17:37,132 --> 00:17:39,572
held a gun
on the security guard.
301
00:17:39,602 --> 00:17:40,872
He got to jail.
302
00:17:40,903 --> 00:17:43,003
He immediately announced
to the other inmates,
303
00:17:43,038 --> 00:17:44,838
"Look, I’m a mob hired Blood.
304
00:17:44,873 --> 00:17:46,813
Anybody Fs with me,
they’re dead."
305
00:17:48,344 --> 00:17:50,144
David Mack was sentenced
to 14 years
306
00:17:50,179 --> 00:17:52,239
and told people he could do it
standing on his head.
307
00:17:53,916 --> 00:17:55,316
He never cooperated.
308
00:17:55,351 --> 00:17:57,951
He got way with $722,000.
309
00:17:57,987 --> 00:18:00,197
They never found any of it.
310
00:18:00,222 --> 00:18:03,292
After the bank robbery,
law enforcement arrested Mack
311
00:18:03,325 --> 00:18:06,135
and essentially
raided his home.
312
00:18:06,161 --> 00:18:08,131
They found
a significant amount
of evidence
313
00:18:08,163 --> 00:18:11,903
that suggested there
could be a connection
to the Biggie murder.
314
00:18:11,934 --> 00:18:14,504
[Phil] They find that
David Mack was the owner
315
00:18:14,536 --> 00:18:19,046
of a 1995 SS Impala
dark-colored
with chrome wheels,
316
00:18:19,074 --> 00:18:23,384
which is the exact same
description that witnesses
saw the shooter
317
00:18:23,412 --> 00:18:25,612
sitting in as he shot
at Biggie.
318
00:18:25,648 --> 00:18:27,258
They found numerous guns.
319
00:18:27,282 --> 00:18:32,082
They found a blue
steel-plated revolver,
9-millimeter,
320
00:18:32,121 --> 00:18:34,621
which is the exact
same description
321
00:18:34,657 --> 00:18:37,927
that was given by one of the
occupants of Biggie’s car.
322
00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,090
There were these boxes
of ammunition in the garage,
323
00:18:41,130 --> 00:18:44,330
and they were a brand
called GECO, German-made,
9-millimeter,
324
00:18:44,366 --> 00:18:47,706
and Biggie had been killed
with GECO bullets.
325
00:18:50,973 --> 00:18:53,873
But they wouldn’t let Poole
look at Mack’s finances.
326
00:18:53,909 --> 00:18:56,069
They wouldn’t let him
do any testing.
327
00:18:56,111 --> 00:18:58,811
They wouldn’t let him run
forensics on the car.
328
00:19:00,516 --> 00:19:02,386
One of the things
that I wanted to do
was obviously
329
00:19:02,418 --> 00:19:05,828
compare that ammunition
that was found at the
crime scene of Biggie
330
00:19:05,854 --> 00:19:08,924
versus the kind of bullets
that were found
in Mack’s house.
331
00:19:08,957 --> 00:19:12,667
And LAPD did say that
they were running ballistics,
332
00:19:12,695 --> 00:19:14,235
but I never got an answer
from them.
333
00:19:14,263 --> 00:19:17,263
And to this day, if there’s
a report that’s been done,
334
00:19:17,299 --> 00:19:18,899
I’ve never been made
aware of it.
335
00:19:22,604 --> 00:19:26,144
[news anchor 6] Rafael Perez,
a former officer in the LAPD,
336
00:19:26,175 --> 00:19:30,315
has already confessed
to intimidating suspects
planting evidence
337
00:19:30,345 --> 00:19:32,645
and giving false statements
in court.
338
00:19:32,681 --> 00:19:35,111
[Randall] So a few months
after Mack’s bank robbery,
339
00:19:35,150 --> 00:19:39,150
Rafael Perez is arrested
for stealing something
340
00:19:39,188 --> 00:19:43,728
close to a million dollars
of cocaine from the LAPD
evidence locker.
341
00:19:43,759 --> 00:19:48,429
Perez would replace it
with something like Bisquick
or baby laxative
342
00:19:48,464 --> 00:19:51,034
and keep the cocaine
and sell it on the street.
343
00:19:51,066 --> 00:19:53,376
[news anchor 7] Perez,
a former police officer,
344
00:19:53,402 --> 00:19:57,202
has implicated himself
and others in an attempt
to reduce his sentence
345
00:19:57,239 --> 00:20:01,739
after being convicted
of stealing cocaine
from a police evidence locker.
346
00:20:01,777 --> 00:20:04,347
This has launched one of the
biggest investigations
347
00:20:04,379 --> 00:20:07,079
into police corruption
in recent history.
348
00:20:07,116 --> 00:20:09,486
Perez was facing a significant
prison sentence,
349
00:20:09,518 --> 00:20:12,188
and he approached
the District Attorney’s office
350
00:20:12,221 --> 00:20:15,851
and said,
"Look, I can give you
a whole lot of information
351
00:20:15,891 --> 00:20:20,691
on these dirty cops
in the Rampart Division
of the LAPD
352
00:20:20,729 --> 00:20:22,429
if you’ll give me a deal."
353
00:20:22,464 --> 00:20:26,164
[news anchor 7] There are
20 officers currently
being investigated
354
00:20:26,201 --> 00:20:30,641
following accusations
of unjustified shootings
and planting evidence.
355
00:20:30,672 --> 00:20:33,612
[Randall] So, he made a deal
that exempted him
from any crimes
356
00:20:33,642 --> 00:20:36,282
and implicated all these
other officers
357
00:20:36,311 --> 00:20:39,481
that was mostly
made up by him.
358
00:20:39,515 --> 00:20:44,385
So Perez’s story turned into
what became known as
the Rampart scandal,
359
00:20:44,419 --> 00:20:47,489
and it worked perfectly
to sort of smother
360
00:20:47,523 --> 00:20:50,563
this other investigation
of all the cops working
for Death Row.
361
00:20:55,063 --> 00:20:58,063
[news anchor 7] The LAPD
are investigating whether
former officer,
362
00:20:58,100 --> 00:21:00,770
David Mack, was present
at the Petersen Museum
363
00:21:00,803 --> 00:21:03,503
the night Notorious B. I. G.
was shot.
364
00:21:03,539 --> 00:21:07,409
Mack may have set up
the shooting on behalf
of Death Row’s Suge Knight,
365
00:21:07,442 --> 00:21:09,142
who is currently in prison.
366
00:21:09,178 --> 00:21:12,288
[Phil] The night that
Biggie was killed,
both David Mack
367
00:21:12,314 --> 00:21:15,454
and Rafael Perez were
present at the Petersen.
368
00:21:17,419 --> 00:21:20,189
Rafael Perez was seen
picking up shell casings,
369
00:21:20,222 --> 00:21:24,462
and actually he’s on a log
as an LAPD officer on site.
370
00:21:24,493 --> 00:21:29,803
And David Mack was identified
by witnesses who were part
of Biggie’s entourage,
371
00:21:29,832 --> 00:21:34,372
saw David Mack at the entrance
when they went
inside with Biggie.
372
00:21:34,403 --> 00:21:38,103
There were numerous people
that had to help orchestrate
to pull this thing off,
373
00:21:38,140 --> 00:21:39,400
especially in public.
374
00:21:47,883 --> 00:21:51,723
This is a huge party,
lots of celebrities,
375
00:21:51,753 --> 00:21:54,923
and to be able to pull off
a hit like this,
376
00:21:54,957 --> 00:21:58,067
they had to coordinate
to where there would be
no police present.
377
00:21:58,093 --> 00:22:03,603
They would have had
to use spotters,
radios, getaway cars.
378
00:22:03,632 --> 00:22:07,902
Now Phil Carson will suggest
that the murder
of Biggie Smalls
379
00:22:07,936 --> 00:22:10,476
was some type
of sophisticated hit.
380
00:22:10,505 --> 00:22:13,675
Unless you’ve investigated
a whole bunch
of drive-by shootings
381
00:22:13,709 --> 00:22:15,009
in Los Angeles,
382
00:22:15,043 --> 00:22:17,543
you’d realize that
that’s just
a drive-by shooting.
383
00:22:17,579 --> 00:22:20,079
It’s no different than
what took place in Las Vegas.
384
00:22:22,084 --> 00:22:23,884
You had a guy lie in wait.
385
00:22:23,919 --> 00:22:26,789
He waited to either
get information about
where Biggie was
386
00:22:26,822 --> 00:22:30,292
or he saw Biggie and simply
pulled up and shot him.
387
00:22:30,325 --> 00:22:33,195
This is a standard
drive-by shooting.
388
00:22:33,228 --> 00:22:35,128
There’s nothing
sophisticated about this.
389
00:22:35,163 --> 00:22:36,903
This was not
a drive-by shooting.
390
00:22:36,932 --> 00:22:37,962
It was an ambush.
391
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,600
This isn’t some drive-by
or random act.
392
00:22:40,636 --> 00:22:45,476
And on top of that,
to take six shots
in such a short amount of time
393
00:22:45,507 --> 00:22:47,617
and not to hit anybody else
in the car
394
00:22:47,643 --> 00:22:50,283
or hit any other part
of the car other than directly
395
00:22:50,312 --> 00:22:52,442
where Biggie is tells me
that that’s somebody
396
00:22:52,481 --> 00:22:54,051
that knew what
they were doing.
397
00:22:54,082 --> 00:22:56,652
This person was allowed
to commit the shooting.
398
00:22:56,685 --> 00:22:58,725
There were no police
around to chase after them.
399
00:22:58,754 --> 00:23:00,324
They never laid eyes
on the car.
400
00:23:00,355 --> 00:23:04,395
They never did
any type of pursuit,
which is 100% unheard of.
401
00:23:28,450 --> 00:23:32,580
[Greg] In 2006,
when I was assigned
to the reinvestigation
402
00:23:32,621 --> 00:23:37,621
of Biggie Smalls’ murder,
the eyewitness testimony
was complicated.
403
00:23:38,827 --> 00:23:42,237
These were the two sketches
of the suspect
404
00:23:42,264 --> 00:23:45,264
based on the witnesses’
observations.
405
00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:50,170
So this first one
was done one day
after Biggie’s shooting.
406
00:23:50,205 --> 00:23:53,515
It’s an African-American
individual with a bow tie,
407
00:23:53,542 --> 00:23:56,242
mustache,
and receding hairline,
408
00:23:56,278 --> 00:24:00,388
pretty consistent with the
combined witness statements.
409
00:24:00,415 --> 00:24:06,055
Nine days later,
LAPD investigators go to
New York to talk to witnesses
410
00:24:06,088 --> 00:24:07,898
and they get
a second composite.
411
00:24:07,923 --> 00:24:11,993
Well, those are
quite different.
412
00:24:12,027 --> 00:24:16,867
They look like two completely
different individuals.
413
00:24:16,898 --> 00:24:19,028
This all happens
extremely fast.
414
00:24:19,067 --> 00:24:20,907
And you realize that
these guys
415
00:24:20,936 --> 00:24:23,006
just caught little glimpses
of time.
416
00:24:25,774 --> 00:24:30,284
You get completely different
impressions now of what people
claim to have seen.
417
00:24:35,550 --> 00:24:39,890
Out of all the eyewitnesses,
the one that is most amazing
418
00:24:39,921 --> 00:24:44,591
that the LAPD simply ignored
was Eugene Deal.
419
00:24:44,626 --> 00:24:48,066
[Greg] Eugene Deal draws
a conclusion based on this
420
00:24:48,096 --> 00:24:50,606
uncomfortable encounter
that he has with this
421
00:24:50,632 --> 00:24:52,732
Nation-of-Islam-looking
person.
422
00:24:52,768 --> 00:24:57,108
And then he hears
at the hospital through
one of the other parties
423
00:24:57,139 --> 00:25:00,869
that the shooter
was wearing suit and bow tie.
424
00:25:00,909 --> 00:25:04,579
So then he concludes
that those are one
and the same people.
425
00:25:07,349 --> 00:25:09,979
But there’s no evidence
to support the idea
426
00:25:10,018 --> 00:25:12,778
that these were in fact
the same individuals.
427
00:25:12,821 --> 00:25:15,221
And Eugene Deal
never sees the shooter.
428
00:25:15,257 --> 00:25:17,627
Come on, it’s the same person.
429
00:25:18,693 --> 00:25:20,033
Greg Kading’s wrong.
430
00:25:20,062 --> 00:25:21,262
He’s just wrong.
431
00:25:21,296 --> 00:25:23,136
He is wrong.
432
00:25:23,165 --> 00:25:25,935
There’s another
piece of evidence
that makes Eugene Deal
433
00:25:25,967 --> 00:25:27,677
very, very credible.
434
00:25:27,702 --> 00:25:32,102
And that is, is he was shown
a photograph
by LAPD detectives
435
00:25:32,140 --> 00:25:35,940
where it shows him
and who he believed
was the shooter
436
00:25:35,977 --> 00:25:38,147
standing right next
to Puffy’s car.
437
00:25:38,180 --> 00:25:41,380
There were two police officers
from the LAPD,
438
00:25:41,416 --> 00:25:45,886
came to interview me two weeks
after B. I. G.’s murder.
439
00:25:47,489 --> 00:25:51,719
I wasn’t supposed to see it,
but I see this photo
of this guy
440
00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:58,560
who had a suit on,
white shirt, and a bow tie.
441
00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:03,500
It was actually the picture
of when the guy
approached me and Puff.
442
00:26:08,810 --> 00:26:10,840
I grabbed the photo
and I looked at it.
443
00:26:10,879 --> 00:26:12,339
I said, "This is the guy
right here."
444
00:26:14,049 --> 00:26:15,979
I said, "What happened
to his face?"
445
00:26:16,017 --> 00:26:22,627
Everything in the picture was
picture perfectly clear
except the individual’s face.
446
00:26:22,657 --> 00:26:26,127
And the officer said,
"We’re going to, uh, fix it
447
00:26:26,161 --> 00:26:28,231
and do some kind of
computer generation.
448
00:26:28,263 --> 00:26:30,803
We’re going to either
come back
or have you come to LA."
449
00:26:36,872 --> 00:26:38,402
They never came back.
450
00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,540
They never called,
didn’t hear anything.
451
00:26:47,849 --> 00:26:52,249
When I first was going through
the entire case file,
I saw that picture.
452
00:26:52,287 --> 00:26:54,357
And that photo was
part of the murder book.
453
00:26:54,389 --> 00:26:56,689
It showed Gene
clear as a day.
454
00:26:56,725 --> 00:26:59,025
It showed Puffy’s car
clear as day.
455
00:26:59,060 --> 00:27:02,890
It showed the other person
clear as day other than
his face.
456
00:27:02,931 --> 00:27:05,561
And it... it was
quite obvious that,
457
00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,700
that it was done intentionally
to blur his face out.
458
00:27:08,737 --> 00:27:11,607
Gene specifically said,
"That’s your shooter."
459
00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:15,410
And when we went back,
that photo had been taken
out of the murder book.
460
00:27:15,443 --> 00:27:19,443
It’s like if you’ve got
four of these photos
on a page,
461
00:27:19,481 --> 00:27:20,751
then you flip
to the next page,
462
00:27:20,782 --> 00:27:23,552
you’ve got four more
on the front and back,
463
00:27:23,585 --> 00:27:26,185
and suddenly
there’s a spot that’s open.
464
00:27:26,221 --> 00:27:31,221
It’s quite obvious
that a photo used to be there,
but no longer is there.
465
00:27:31,259 --> 00:27:34,089
And we’re realizing
that stuff that is... is...
466
00:27:34,129 --> 00:27:40,129
completely evidentiary
to this case is missing
or being withheld or hidden.
467
00:27:41,536 --> 00:27:45,276
And so, I wrote up a document
and we sent it
over to the LAPD
468
00:27:45,307 --> 00:27:49,317
and said, "We want to not only
see all the photos
of the Biggie Smalls’ case,
469
00:27:49,344 --> 00:27:52,784
but specifically
this one photo
that Big Gene was shown."
470
00:27:52,814 --> 00:27:55,954
And they tell me,
"This photo doesn’t exist."
471
00:27:55,984 --> 00:27:58,954
I’m like, "You’ve got to be
kidding me."
472
00:27:58,987 --> 00:28:00,857
First of all,
I’ve seen the photo.
473
00:28:00,889 --> 00:28:02,919
And second of all,
it’s documented.
474
00:28:02,958 --> 00:28:06,068
That’s the part
that’s mind-blowing to me.
475
00:28:06,094 --> 00:28:11,604
It’s documented by LAPD
that they showed him
this photo.
476
00:28:11,633 --> 00:28:14,033
So, how can you say
this photo doesn’t exist?
477
00:28:21,243 --> 00:28:26,513
[Eugene] In 2001,
three or four years
after B. I. G.’s death,
478
00:28:26,548 --> 00:28:30,158
I was shown this photo lineup
by a documentary filmmaker.
479
00:28:31,519 --> 00:28:33,489
LAPD never showed it to me.
480
00:28:34,990 --> 00:28:39,060
That was the individual
who walked up to me and Puff
481
00:28:39,094 --> 00:28:42,164
while we were
in the parking garage
at the Petersen Museum.
482
00:28:43,031 --> 00:28:46,601
You don’t forget
nothing like that.
483
00:28:47,902 --> 00:28:49,732
[producer speaking]
484
00:28:51,339 --> 00:28:52,899
Like I feel now.
485
00:28:54,643 --> 00:28:56,673
Like [bleep] up.
486
00:28:57,612 --> 00:28:59,442
I can’t explain in
no other way.
487
00:28:59,481 --> 00:29:02,511
I... I can’t articulate it.
I can’t...
488
00:29:03,985 --> 00:29:05,955
sugarcoat it in
no kind of way.
489
00:29:08,123 --> 00:29:09,923
I don’t even want
to hold this.
490
00:29:18,166 --> 00:29:21,336
[Phil] The person that
Big Gene identified
in that six-pack
491
00:29:21,369 --> 00:29:23,069
goes by the name
of Amir Muhammad
492
00:29:23,104 --> 00:29:25,044
and he also goes by the name
of Harry Billups.
493
00:29:26,341 --> 00:29:29,071
[Greg] Amir Muhammad
was the godfather
to Mack’s children.
494
00:29:29,110 --> 00:29:32,510
And also we know how close
they must have been
495
00:29:32,547 --> 00:29:34,557
because as soon as David Mack
was arrested,
496
00:29:34,582 --> 00:29:37,982
Amir Muhammad was the one
and only person who came
to visit him in jail.
497
00:29:40,455 --> 00:29:43,125
[Phil] Amir Muhammad used
false identification,
498
00:29:43,158 --> 00:29:47,298
so the record would not be
showing that Amir Muhammad
was the one
499
00:29:47,329 --> 00:29:49,189
that was actually
visiting him.
500
00:29:51,633 --> 00:29:54,333
The one thing
that he changed
is the last four digits
501
00:29:54,369 --> 00:29:58,869
of his Social Security,
because he knows that
this visitor’s log
502
00:29:58,907 --> 00:30:02,077
is viewed by many people,
including other inmates.
503
00:30:02,110 --> 00:30:06,410
So he’s smart enough
to realize that I don’t need
my identity stolen
504
00:30:06,448 --> 00:30:08,258
by putting my
Social Security number
505
00:30:08,283 --> 00:30:11,153
down on a document
that anybody can take.
506
00:30:11,186 --> 00:30:15,096
The conspiracy theorists
will use the idea that,
507
00:30:15,123 --> 00:30:17,093
"Look, he’s trying
to hide his identity,"
508
00:30:17,125 --> 00:30:22,035
but it’s an old friend
who just happens to be
associated with a bad cop
509
00:30:22,063 --> 00:30:23,933
because of a relationship
in college.
510
00:30:26,134 --> 00:30:28,874
The reason that he went to see
David Mack in jail
511
00:30:28,903 --> 00:30:30,943
is because David Mack
needed someone
512
00:30:30,972 --> 00:30:32,972
to look after the family
while he’s gone.
513
00:30:33,007 --> 00:30:35,717
He’s not providing
his information
to a prison inmate.
514
00:30:35,744 --> 00:30:40,784
It’s a login book
that the wardens require
to go into any prison.
515
00:30:40,815 --> 00:30:42,515
He’s wrong.
516
00:30:43,585 --> 00:30:47,225
Simply put, he is wrong.
517
00:30:49,357 --> 00:30:53,797
[Kenneth Boagni speaking]
518
00:31:15,116 --> 00:31:17,486
[news anchor]
Investigators are exploring
Mack’s connection
519
00:31:17,519 --> 00:31:19,349
with Death Row
and Suge Knight.
520
00:31:19,387 --> 00:31:22,257
It is thought Mack may have
hired Wallace’s shooter,
521
00:31:22,290 --> 00:31:26,590
a suspect by the name
of Amir Muhammad
and Mack’s longtime friend
522
00:31:26,628 --> 00:31:28,738
who now appears
to have disappeared.
523
00:31:35,103 --> 00:31:37,743
Amir Muhammad
was never questioned
by the LAPD
524
00:31:37,772 --> 00:31:40,972
about Biggie’s murder,
but there were
numerous informants
525
00:31:41,009 --> 00:31:43,909
who presented evidence
that implicated David Mack
526
00:31:43,945 --> 00:31:46,885
and Amir Muhammad
and Suge Knight
in Biggie’s murder.
527
00:33:40,762 --> 00:33:42,632
My name is Xavier Hermosillo.
528
00:33:42,664 --> 00:33:47,304
I’ve been involved with
the LAPD’s disciplinary system
for about 20 years.
529
00:33:49,337 --> 00:33:54,377
During one particular
disciplinary hearing
involving the Rampart scandal,
530
00:33:54,409 --> 00:33:56,809
we heard testimony
from a couple of inmates,
531
00:33:56,844 --> 00:34:01,314
Kenny Boagni
and Felipe Sanchez,
who had been in cells
532
00:34:01,349 --> 00:34:04,979
with Rafael Perez
two years apart.
533
00:34:10,358 --> 00:34:11,468
During their questioning,
534
00:34:11,492 --> 00:34:13,932
Kenny Boagni started
to ask a question,
535
00:34:13,962 --> 00:34:16,792
and the prosecutor
on behalf of the department
jumped up,
536
00:34:16,831 --> 00:34:19,261
said, "I told you to shut up
and keep your mouth shut.
537
00:34:19,300 --> 00:34:21,070
You’re not supposed
to talk about that."
538
00:34:21,102 --> 00:34:23,232
We were shocked.
We were astonished.
539
00:34:34,782 --> 00:34:37,652
[Xavier] And these prisoners
began to give
a very similar story
540
00:34:37,685 --> 00:34:41,025
about how they had
been visited
the week before this...
541
00:34:41,055 --> 00:34:43,825
this trial board
by two members
542
00:34:43,858 --> 00:34:45,458
of the Los Angeles
Police Department.
543
00:35:08,349 --> 00:35:11,119
They threatened both
of these prisoners
544
00:35:11,152 --> 00:35:12,922
that if they came
and testified,
545
00:35:12,954 --> 00:35:18,324
that they would be shanked,
stabbed in... in the prison.
546
00:35:18,359 --> 00:35:22,459
Both Kenny Boagni
and Felipe Sanchez
testified that
547
00:35:22,497 --> 00:35:26,937
when they were in jail
with Perez, he confessed
to being involved
548
00:35:26,968 --> 00:35:32,878
in the murder of Biggie Smalls
and participating in it
with David Mack.
549
00:35:36,144 --> 00:35:39,644
[Kenneth speaking]
550
00:36:17,118 --> 00:36:18,288
[gunshots]
551
00:36:23,324 --> 00:36:25,764
One of my
responsibilities was to keep
track of all the evidence.
552
00:36:25,793 --> 00:36:28,393
And a particular piece
of evidence was introduced.
553
00:36:28,429 --> 00:36:29,489
It was a photograph.
554
00:36:29,530 --> 00:36:33,060
And I look at it,
and I was stunned.
555
00:36:33,101 --> 00:36:35,801
Very few things in life
have stunned me like this.
556
00:36:35,837 --> 00:36:41,017
It was a picture of David Mack
on one side, Rafael Perez
on the other side,
557
00:36:41,042 --> 00:36:42,912
dressed in red
from head to toe,
558
00:36:42,944 --> 00:36:44,944
which stands
for the Bloods gang.
559
00:36:44,979 --> 00:36:48,679
And standing in between
with a knife ready
to cut a cake
560
00:36:48,716 --> 00:36:54,896
that says Bloods Rule was
a lady wearing
an all red dress.
561
00:36:54,922 --> 00:36:59,522
And that woman was
none other than the daughter
562
00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,130
of LAPD chief, Bernard Parks.
563
00:37:02,163 --> 00:37:06,803
And to see
the chief’s daughter
dressed like a gang member
564
00:37:06,834 --> 00:37:09,404
flanked by two
LA police officers
565
00:37:09,437 --> 00:37:12,477
who were gang members
was disgusting.
566
00:37:12,507 --> 00:37:16,077
This kind of filth,
these rotten guys,
567
00:37:16,110 --> 00:37:20,040
could be Los Angeles
police officers.
It was disgusting.
568
00:37:21,215 --> 00:37:22,585
I turned it over.
569
00:37:22,617 --> 00:37:26,227
I wrote the exhibit number,
signed my name,
570
00:37:26,254 --> 00:37:29,954
and then I handed it over
to my two captain partners.
571
00:37:29,991 --> 00:37:33,221
[Randall] That particular
photograph that was entered
into evidence
572
00:37:33,261 --> 00:37:36,531
was turned back over
to the LAPD,
and then it disappeared.
573
00:37:45,006 --> 00:37:48,676
[Randall] The LAPD
was relentless
and very skillful
574
00:37:48,709 --> 00:37:53,739
in coordination with the city,
in closing off every avenue
of investigation.
575
00:37:55,316 --> 00:37:57,186
Phil Carson was shut down
from the moment
576
00:37:57,218 --> 00:38:00,658
he appeared on a witness list
submitted by the attorneys
577
00:38:00,688 --> 00:38:04,958
for the Wallace family,
who wanted to get him
to testify in court
578
00:38:04,992 --> 00:38:10,262
about what he knew about
the LAPD’s attempts
to basically obstruct
579
00:38:10,298 --> 00:38:12,408
the investigation
of the Biggie murder.
580
00:38:12,433 --> 00:38:14,033
I knew nothing about
this witness list.
581
00:38:14,068 --> 00:38:15,968
I didn’t know I’d been
put on a witness list.
582
00:38:16,003 --> 00:38:19,773
This attorney from
the city attorney’s office
comes over.
583
00:38:19,807 --> 00:38:23,117
He pointblank tells my bosses,
"We cannot afford
584
00:38:23,144 --> 00:38:26,584
to have Agent Carson
testify in this civil lawsuit
585
00:38:26,614 --> 00:38:29,654
because if he does,
we stand a 50-50 chance
586
00:38:29,684 --> 00:38:32,624
of losing a $400 million
settlement,
587
00:38:32,653 --> 00:38:34,953
and we can’t afford
to have that happen."
588
00:38:34,989 --> 00:38:37,489
[Randall] If such a judgment
was ever sustained,
589
00:38:37,525 --> 00:38:41,135
the LAPD would have
to basically dissolve
and it would not exist
590
00:38:41,162 --> 00:38:43,032
as the Los Angeles Police
Department anymore.
591
00:38:43,064 --> 00:38:45,804
And they did everything
that they could to stop it.
592
00:38:45,833 --> 00:38:49,133
There was another meeting
that took place with LAPD
593
00:38:49,170 --> 00:38:51,070
and some of their
senior staff,
594
00:38:51,105 --> 00:38:53,505
and somebody
in that meeting stated,
595
00:38:53,541 --> 00:38:57,071
"It’s not worth solving
the murder
596
00:38:57,111 --> 00:39:00,611
of a 400-pound
Black rapper
597
00:39:00,648 --> 00:39:04,528
who used to be
a cocaine dealer
and possibly ruining
598
00:39:04,552 --> 00:39:08,922
the working relationship
between the FBI and the LAPD."
599
00:39:08,956 --> 00:39:13,366
We just shook our heads
and go, "This is...
600
00:39:13,394 --> 00:39:15,094
I can’t even believe
I just heard that."
601
00:39:16,430 --> 00:39:18,930
That’s the lengths
that they went to,
602
00:39:18,966 --> 00:39:22,606
to try to make sure that
this case was not successful.
603
00:39:25,306 --> 00:39:28,046
After about two-plus years
of my investigation,
604
00:39:28,075 --> 00:39:30,215
I put together
a prosecutive report.
605
00:39:30,244 --> 00:39:32,684
We present it to
the US Attorney’s Office,
606
00:39:32,713 --> 00:39:35,253
and... and they declined it.
607
00:39:35,283 --> 00:39:37,923
There was always a letter
of declination
608
00:39:37,952 --> 00:39:42,822
and they specifically state
why a case is being declined
for prosecution.
609
00:39:42,857 --> 00:39:46,397
But we never got
that letter of declination.
610
00:39:46,427 --> 00:39:49,167
There’s a $400 million
civil lawsuit
on the line here.
611
00:39:49,196 --> 00:39:54,636
Anybody that says that
that does not come into
play is a fool.
612
00:39:55,970 --> 00:39:58,270
[Randall] As the lawsuit
was about to go to trial,
613
00:39:58,306 --> 00:39:59,746
the Wallace family
and their attorneys knew
614
00:39:59,774 --> 00:40:03,044
they had overwhelming evidence
that the LAPD had obstructed
615
00:40:03,077 --> 00:40:05,217
the investigation
and suppressed evidence.
616
00:40:10,184 --> 00:40:12,724
But the judge ruled
that before they could
even present that,
617
00:40:12,753 --> 00:40:17,723
they had to show
a preponderance of evidence
that LAPD officers
618
00:40:17,758 --> 00:40:19,518
were involved
in Biggie’s murder.
619
00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:23,960
So it became more and more
urgent to find witnesses
who would support that.
620
00:40:23,998 --> 00:40:26,508
One day, I read
an LA Times story
and the story said,
621
00:40:26,534 --> 00:40:29,934
"Federal judge threatens
to dismiss Biggie Smalls’ case
622
00:40:29,971 --> 00:40:32,841
because the department claims
they didn’t have
the evidence."
623
00:40:32,873 --> 00:40:36,443
And when I realized
what it was that the family
was asking for,
624
00:40:36,477 --> 00:40:40,817
I said, "Oh, my God,
this stuff was all
sent into evidence."
625
00:40:41,882 --> 00:40:43,952
My name is on the back,
my initials.
626
00:40:45,786 --> 00:40:49,556
And then my wife came home
from work and she says,
"What’s the matter with you?"
627
00:40:49,590 --> 00:40:51,520
And I told her.
628
00:40:51,559 --> 00:40:56,229
And she says, "Aren’t you
supposed to stay out
of that stuff?"
629
00:40:56,263 --> 00:40:58,833
I said, "Sweetheart,
we have five kids.
630
00:41:00,701 --> 00:41:02,601
If somebody murdered
one of our kids
631
00:41:03,804 --> 00:41:06,304
and somebody had information,
I’d want to know.
632
00:41:06,340 --> 00:41:07,870
We’d want to know.
633
00:41:07,908 --> 00:41:10,708
It was very emotional for me
634
00:41:10,745 --> 00:41:14,855
because I put myself
in Mrs. Wallace’s place.
635
00:41:22,189 --> 00:41:25,459
And I had to draw
a distinction between
636
00:41:25,493 --> 00:41:29,293
doing something that I had
no business doing versus
637
00:41:29,330 --> 00:41:32,960
being a citizen who had
information in a murder case
638
00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:35,230
that should be
brought forward.
639
00:41:37,371 --> 00:41:40,601
[Randall] Xavier Hermosillo
knew what the LAPD was hiding.
640
00:41:40,641 --> 00:41:45,911
He knew he was the only one
who could reveal this.
641
00:41:45,946 --> 00:41:51,326
I think Xavier just thought,
"I can’t. I can’t just
sit here silently
642
00:41:51,352 --> 00:41:54,052
when I know
that this stuff exists."
643
00:41:54,088 --> 00:41:55,458
It was about
doing the right thing.
644
00:41:55,489 --> 00:41:58,889
So I did what I had to do,
and I don’t regret it.
645
00:42:02,129 --> 00:42:05,099
The judge said,
"Here’s your search warrant,
646
00:42:05,132 --> 00:42:07,432
go lock up
robbery, homicide."
647
00:42:07,468 --> 00:42:12,148
And in comes two US Marshals
and they raided the LAPD.