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[narrator] a fatal ambush leaves
a young father dead.
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It was broad daylight.
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The shooter ran up to the car
and fired shots into the car,
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00:00:16,483 --> 00:00:17,416
And ran away.
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[narrator] a mysterious suspect
emerges.
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We were thinkin',
"that's the guy."
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But there's no
identifiable connection
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Between the two of them.
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[narrator] a motive eludes
officials...
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Does he have any enemies?
And they were like, "no."
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You have to at least look at
the former relationship.
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[narrator] but suspicions
shift when
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Risky business relationships
surface.
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He was in the process of trying
to open a dispensary.
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He was the partner sort of
behind the scenes,
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And she was the public face.
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[nicholas] he said, "I have all
this money out there,
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But she could just walk away
with this whole thing."
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"give me a million bucks and
I'll back out."
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[matt] she made a calculation.
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And the drive to commit a crime
like this is,
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Comes back to deadly sins,
greed.
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[theme music]
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[narrator] July 13th, 2016.
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Less than 30 miles south of
san francisco,
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In hayward, california,
it's just before 1 p.M.
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When an onslaught of 911 calls
start pouring into
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The alameda county
sheriff's department.
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[jason] there were
multiple callers.
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That was broadcast over,
through dispatch.
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It was reporting that a man was
shot in a busy intersection.
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It was broad daylight,
in the middle of the day.
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There were people everywhere.
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[police sirens]
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[narrator] first responders rush
to the corner of
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Meekland avenue and blossom way
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The first person on scene,
I believe, was a motor officer.
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[narrator] onlookers point
the officer to
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A dodge truck with
an unconscious male inside.
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He was in the driver's seat,
and he was slumped forward.
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He had a, a gunshot wound
to his side.
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[nicholas] his foot was still on
the brake
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And the car was still in drive.
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The responding officer has to
reach in...
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Shut the truck off.
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[jason] the first officer
checked for a pulse,
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And there, there was no pulse.
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He was pronounced dead very
quickly.
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[narrator] homicide detectives
begin questioning witnesses.
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[jason] everyone heard
the gunshots and looked up,
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And the shooter then immediately
took off running.
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[nicholas] he had a gun in
his hand.
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He runs west towards
the railroad tracks.
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He was a african american male.
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White shirt, blue jeans,
tan boots, with a ball cap on.
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Some people said it appeared he
was wearing gloves.
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[narrator] investigators
launch a manhunt
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Using helicopters, k-9 units,
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And officers in squad cars
and on foot.
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At the crime scene,
the coroner arrives.
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[nicholas] the coroner's office
is able to grab his wallet,
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And then somebody ran his plate
on his car,
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Pulled his name up in
the driver's license registry.
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We looked at his picture,
and yes, this is who it is.
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[narrator] the victim is
38-year-old adan katami,
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A resident of nearby antioch.
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[jason] we didn't know if this
is road rage,
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And certainly with somebody
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Getting out of a car
and, and shooting,
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That theory was floated.
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[music]
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[narrator] adan was born on
April 13th, 1978,
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And raised along with
his brother and sister
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In san francisco.
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Adan was a very confident,
very bright child.
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He did very well in school.
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Adan's father,
he was a grocery owner.
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If you knew him,
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You knew why adan was such
an incredible, strong person,
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'cause his father had those
similar traits.
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[monica] from a young age,
he always pushed himself to,
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Like, strive to be more
and strive to be better.
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[narrator] as a teenager,
adan was ambitious,
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But knew his path wouldn't be
an academic one.
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[lita] his mother signed off so
that he could take his ged,
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And he passed with
flying colors,
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Got very high marks on the ged.
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He started working for
the sears company...
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In the washing machine,
refrigerator department.
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Within, like, three months,
he was their top seller,
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And he was only 16 years old.
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So, he was already a little
entrepreneur at that age.
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[narrator] years later,
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The 20-year-old salesman
reconnected with
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A childhood friend named selena
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They dated, and soon had
a baby boy on the way.
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[lita] I don't think he was
looking to be a parent
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At that age,
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But once it happened,
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It was just a whole new world
for him.
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[monica] he definitely did love
his son very much.
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He always wanted to show him,
like,
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The best things
ever in his life.
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[narrator] the relationship
didn't last,
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But the young couple worked
together to raise their son,
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Adan jr.
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Everything was pretty amicable.
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They were very
good at co-parenting.
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[narrator] throughout his 20s,
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Adan kept his nose to
the grindstone.
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[lita] by the time he was 21,
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He was very interested in
real estate.
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And he and a group of friends
purchased a strip mall.
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He was his own man even
at that very young age.
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He was very busy out in
the world.
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He wanted to be
financially independent,
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So he worked very hard to get
there.
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[narrator] by his early 30s,
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Adan had reconnected with
a childhood friend,
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29-year-old monica palau.
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[monica] when I first met him,
it was just strictly friendship.
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We had met up again, like,
years and years later,
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And then that's when we were,
kind of, you know, clicked.
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[narrator] they fell in love
and welcomed a daughter.
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After I had her, we were like,
together,
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But then we would go off and on.
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It was definitely like
a co-parenting.
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We would just share her, like,
every other weekend.
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Our daughter was like,
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Kind of like a little
spitting image of him,
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And they just kinda had
their little bond.
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[lita] it was really nice to see
adan and the relationship
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That he had with his daughter.
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It just kinda softened
certain edges around him
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When he was with her.
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And she just loved her daddy.
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[monica] he was just, like,
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A very, like, loving,
caring person.
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He would always wanting people
to like,
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Strive to be, like, their best.
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He was just, like,
kinda like, "go, go, go."
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He didn't ever wanna,
you know, rest.
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[narrator] in 2016,
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When california legalized
cannabis for recreational use,
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Adan saw
the business opportunity
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He'd been waiting for.
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[matt] dispensaries were
popping up left and right,
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And he had wanted to open
a cannabis dispensary.
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Adan was involved in researching
medical marijuana
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And how he could bring something
like that
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To his community in
san francisco.
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[narrator] however,
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Breaking into the wildly popula
dispensary business
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Was no easy task.
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00:08:01,548 --> 00:08:05,783
He had to go through the state,
like the city of san francisco.
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00:08:05,852 --> 00:08:07,085
Having to get signatures
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00:08:07,153 --> 00:08:09,687
For the people that were in
the surrounding areas.
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But adan was excited about
putting in the work to, like,
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00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,059
Get it open.
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00:08:15,128 --> 00:08:18,863
And he spoke of how it would be
so, you know, beneficial
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Because his children would be
well off.
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[narrator] but less than a year
into planning
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His future business,
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Adan's dreams come to an end
in a hail of midday gunfire.
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It's shocking when it happens in
the middle of broad daylight,
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Literally in front of families.
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It sort of escalates it for
the police, as well.
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[nicholas] as far as
crime scenes go,
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There was shell casings across
that area.
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Everything was contained to
the truck
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Besides the shell casings.
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[narrator] even for
the seasoned detectives,
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A shooting this brazen is
unusual.
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[jason] it was not a robbery,
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00:09:03,743 --> 00:09:05,676
Because nothing was missing,
nothing was taken.
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The shooter ran up to the car
and fired shots into the car,
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And then ran away.
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[nicholas] the question is why,
right?
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And so, everybody
immediately thought,
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"oh, this is road rage."
like, right?
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Guy got mad and just lost
his temper and shot the guy.
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It was all over the news
that day.
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[narrator] as the manhunt
continues,
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Detectives pull
surveillance video
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From a business near
the intersection.
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[jason] the liquor store that's
right at the corner,
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I knew from previous experience
of working in that area
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That they have
fantastic surveillance.
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So, I went into the liquor store
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And went into the back
and watched the video
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To try to get a better
description of the shooter.
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We literally had
a front row seat
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00:09:57,597 --> 00:09:59,130
To see exactly how it happened.
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00:10:01,101 --> 00:10:03,702
As adan's truck pulls in
that left-hand turn lane,
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00:10:03,770 --> 00:10:05,537
We see a red jeep.
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00:10:05,605 --> 00:10:07,138
A guy get out
of the passenger side,
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00:10:07,207 --> 00:10:08,306
Passenger front,
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00:10:08,375 --> 00:10:09,774
Literally walk up to
the back window,
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00:10:09,843 --> 00:10:12,676
And just begin
shooting into the car.
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00:10:13,380 --> 00:10:16,314
[narrator] investigators issue
another bolo.
201
00:10:16,382 --> 00:10:18,350
This time, for the jeep.
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00:10:18,785 --> 00:10:20,452
[jason] we could not see
the driver.
203
00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,520
It was a red jeep wrangler.
204
00:10:23,189 --> 00:10:26,224
So, it was a pretty
distinct vehicle.
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00:10:28,294 --> 00:10:30,328
[narrator] then, detectives get
word that
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00:10:30,396 --> 00:10:33,698
A potential shooter has just
been spotted.
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00:10:34,601 --> 00:10:36,701
Detectives were comin' down one
of these,
208
00:10:36,770 --> 00:10:38,636
You know, meandering streets.
209
00:10:38,705 --> 00:10:40,204
He sees this black male
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00:10:40,273 --> 00:10:43,708
Kinda lightly jogging down
the sidewalk.
211
00:10:44,711 --> 00:10:46,410
[jason] the guy matched
the description.
212
00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,480
He's wearing blue jeans and
jogging down the road,
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00:10:49,950 --> 00:10:51,816
And looking over his shoulder.
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00:10:51,818 --> 00:10:53,084
He was nervous.
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00:10:54,020 --> 00:10:55,153
[nicholas] that guy looks like
he's sweating.
216
00:10:55,221 --> 00:10:57,288
We're thinkin',
"okay, maybe that's him.
217
00:10:57,357 --> 00:10:58,556
That's the guy."
218
00:11:01,861 --> 00:11:03,361
[narrator] coming up.
219
00:11:03,429 --> 00:11:07,098
A tight-lipped suspect makes
a bizarre request.
220
00:11:07,934 --> 00:11:09,801
He asked if he would go straight
to death row.
221
00:11:09,869 --> 00:11:12,604
'cause he didn't want to spend
a lot of time in prison.
222
00:11:13,239 --> 00:11:15,173
[narrator] later,
detectives uncover
223
00:11:15,241 --> 00:11:17,575
A high-stakes
business venture...
224
00:11:18,378 --> 00:11:21,346
He said, "I think I'm gonna
get screwed in this deal".
225
00:11:23,349 --> 00:11:25,884
[music]
226
00:11:31,156 --> 00:11:33,058
[music]
227
00:11:34,794 --> 00:11:37,996
[music]
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00:11:38,064 --> 00:11:39,630
[narrator] less than
an hour after
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00:11:39,699 --> 00:11:43,034
38-year-old adan katami was
gunned down,
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00:11:43,769 --> 00:11:47,071
The alameda sheriff's departmen
gets their first potential brea
231
00:11:47,140 --> 00:11:49,040
When authorities apprehend a ma
232
00:11:49,109 --> 00:11:51,175
Meeting the description of
the shooter
233
00:11:51,177 --> 00:11:52,743
A mile and a half away.
234
00:11:53,479 --> 00:11:55,579
One of the detectives first just
asked him,
235
00:11:55,581 --> 00:11:58,149
You know, where he was and
what was goin' on.
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00:12:01,321 --> 00:12:03,121
[narrator] the man identifies
himself
237
00:12:03,189 --> 00:12:06,191
As 46-year-old johnny wright.
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00:12:07,427 --> 00:12:10,394
[nicholas] the officer kinda
does a terry frisk on him.
239
00:12:10,730 --> 00:12:11,863
He feels, like, a ball,
240
00:12:11,931 --> 00:12:14,198
A ball of something
in his pocket.
241
00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,000
And he goes like, "hey man,
what, what is this?"
242
00:12:16,002 --> 00:12:17,736
And he said, "it's gloves."
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00:12:19,038 --> 00:12:21,339
That's when some of
the witnesses start showin' up.
244
00:12:22,242 --> 00:12:24,508
He was detained at that time
to identify him.
245
00:12:24,578 --> 00:12:27,245
Witnesses said the suspect was
wearing gloves.
246
00:12:28,014 --> 00:12:30,849
Johnny was handcuffed,
and he's detained
247
00:12:30,851 --> 00:12:33,084
So that we could either
include him
248
00:12:33,152 --> 00:12:35,586
Or exclude him as being
a possible suspect.
249
00:12:35,922 --> 00:12:37,255
[narrator] the officers request
250
00:12:37,323 --> 00:12:40,458
Eyewitnesses complete
a field lineup.
251
00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:42,827
[nicholas] we can't move
the suspect,
252
00:12:43,163 --> 00:12:45,329
But he can be
detained temporarily.
253
00:12:45,632 --> 00:12:48,399
There were a few people that did
field show-ups that day,
254
00:12:48,468 --> 00:12:49,800
Identifying him.
255
00:12:49,802 --> 00:12:52,036
"I remember those boots.
That's him.
256
00:12:52,104 --> 00:12:53,371
That's the, that's the guy".
257
00:12:55,141 --> 00:12:57,909
[narrator] with several
witnesses iding johnny
258
00:12:57,977 --> 00:12:59,043
As the shooter,
259
00:12:59,045 --> 00:13:01,012
Police prepare to take him in.
260
00:13:05,151 --> 00:13:10,088
But then, the officer overhears
a conversation in the backseat.
261
00:13:11,291 --> 00:13:13,391
[nicholas] then the officer runs
around the car.
262
00:13:14,127 --> 00:13:15,693
Johnny hangs up the phone.
He's like, "hey man.
263
00:13:15,761 --> 00:13:17,929
You can't be havin' your
cell phone, talkin' back here."
264
00:13:17,997 --> 00:13:19,931
He takes the cell phone from
him.
265
00:13:22,735 --> 00:13:24,435
[narrator] at the station,
266
00:13:24,437 --> 00:13:27,806
The officer hands the phone ove
to detectives as evidence.
267
00:13:28,909 --> 00:13:31,309
They question johnny to find ou
who was on
268
00:13:31,377 --> 00:13:33,744
The receiving end of that
phone call,
269
00:13:34,113 --> 00:13:36,080
But he quickly takes their
interview
270
00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:38,082
In an unexpected direction.
271
00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:42,052
[jason] he asked if we have
the death penalty.
272
00:13:42,588 --> 00:13:44,288
And if there's
a district attorney present,
273
00:13:44,357 --> 00:13:47,892
That could essentially write up
a plea agreement at that time
274
00:13:47,961 --> 00:13:49,761
Where he would go straight to
death row
275
00:13:50,096 --> 00:13:52,696
Because he didn't wanna
spend a lot of time in prison,
276
00:13:52,766 --> 00:13:53,998
Waiting to be executed.
277
00:13:56,069 --> 00:13:57,435
[nicholas] we said,
"well, this is california.
278
00:13:57,503 --> 00:13:59,737
We don't use
the death penalty here, so..."
279
00:13:59,805 --> 00:14:01,906
Like, "that's not gonna happen".
280
00:14:02,208 --> 00:14:03,875
He's like,
"if you can't do that,
281
00:14:03,943 --> 00:14:04,975
I'm not doin' anything.
282
00:14:05,045 --> 00:14:06,443
I'm, I'm done talking."
283
00:14:07,313 --> 00:14:09,780
It's not like you interview
people on the regular
284
00:14:09,849 --> 00:14:12,350
That are just like, "oh,
I'll sign a full confession,
285
00:14:12,418 --> 00:14:14,018
And yeah, I want
the death penalty."
286
00:14:14,087 --> 00:14:16,354
It's like, "where did this
come from?"
287
00:14:16,990 --> 00:14:19,490
Johnny wright is the only person
I've ever interviewed
288
00:14:19,559 --> 00:14:24,395
That has asked for
the death chamber on day one.
289
00:14:29,068 --> 00:14:31,202
We told him he was under arrest
for murder.
290
00:14:32,973 --> 00:14:35,840
And johnny, he invoked his
rights to an attorney.
291
00:14:36,776 --> 00:14:39,677
[narrator] the fact that johnny
offered to sign a confession
292
00:14:39,745 --> 00:14:43,014
Appears to detectives to be
an admission of guilt...
293
00:14:46,186 --> 00:14:50,455
But his interview leaves
investigators with few answers.
294
00:14:54,260 --> 00:14:56,961
[matt] what in the world does
this guy have to do with
295
00:14:57,029 --> 00:14:58,762
This guy, adan katami?
296
00:14:58,832 --> 00:15:00,864
There's no
identifiable connection
297
00:15:00,866 --> 00:15:02,100
Between the two of them.
298
00:15:03,136 --> 00:15:04,201
[narrator] while looking
for answers,
299
00:15:04,738 --> 00:15:07,739
Detectives suddenly get word
that the red jeep
300
00:15:07,807 --> 00:15:10,942
Has been spotted three miles
from the crime scene.
301
00:15:15,548 --> 00:15:17,781
[jason] another detective
happened to see
302
00:15:17,783 --> 00:15:19,183
A red jeep wrangler
303
00:15:19,185 --> 00:15:21,885
And a woman standing outside,
smokin' a cigarette.
304
00:15:22,355 --> 00:15:25,056
He stopped and asked her if that
was her jeep.
305
00:15:25,525 --> 00:15:27,191
She said that it wasn't
her jeep,
306
00:15:27,193 --> 00:15:28,959
But it was her boyfriend's jeep.
307
00:15:28,961 --> 00:15:31,595
And when asked what
the boyfriend's name was,
308
00:15:31,664 --> 00:15:33,064
She said johnny wright.
309
00:15:33,132 --> 00:15:36,767
[music]
310
00:15:36,769 --> 00:15:39,136
[matt] she was very polite,
she was very cooperative.
311
00:15:39,205 --> 00:15:41,405
And she talked to them.
"where are you from?"
312
00:15:41,474 --> 00:15:44,274
"oh, I'm not from around here,
I'm from tennessee."
313
00:15:44,944 --> 00:15:46,810
[narrator] the woman
identifies herself
314
00:15:46,812 --> 00:15:50,948
As 25-year-old chariott burks o
memphis, tennessee.
315
00:15:51,684 --> 00:15:54,285
[jason] we told chariott that
johnny was detained,
316
00:15:54,353 --> 00:15:56,087
And we asked her to come back to
the station
317
00:15:56,155 --> 00:15:57,355
And give us a statement.
318
00:16:02,094 --> 00:16:03,427
At that point we knew that
319
00:16:03,429 --> 00:16:05,963
Johnny got out of the car
and shot adan,
320
00:16:06,499 --> 00:16:08,999
But we didn't know if chariott
knew that
321
00:16:09,001 --> 00:16:10,201
Johnny was going to do this.
322
00:16:10,269 --> 00:16:13,036
Or what chariott's
overall involvement was
323
00:16:13,172 --> 00:16:16,207
Other than she drove the jeep.
324
00:16:17,109 --> 00:16:19,042
She said that she had johnny
were pretty close,
325
00:16:19,445 --> 00:16:23,114
And johnny asked her to drive to
california.
326
00:16:23,649 --> 00:16:25,783
Johnny had a family member that
lived in
327
00:16:25,851 --> 00:16:27,585
The sacramento river delta.
328
00:16:28,187 --> 00:16:30,588
[narrator] she says they arrived
a week ago.
329
00:16:31,357 --> 00:16:34,759
We asked her, "since you came to
california to right now,
330
00:16:35,428 --> 00:16:37,128
Tell us everything that
happened."
331
00:16:39,665 --> 00:16:41,966
[narrator] chariott tells them
that morning,
332
00:16:42,034 --> 00:16:43,534
Johnny asked her to drive
the jeep
333
00:16:43,603 --> 00:16:46,504
To the intersection of meekland
and blossom.
334
00:16:49,575 --> 00:16:53,310
She told us that johnny started
putting on rubber gloves,
335
00:16:53,379 --> 00:16:56,280
And that she heard the slide of
the gun rack
336
00:16:56,282 --> 00:16:59,550
As he chambered around
before he got out of the jeep.
337
00:17:00,653 --> 00:17:02,486
She said that she did not see
the shooting;
338
00:17:02,488 --> 00:17:05,256
That she was driving when
she heard the shots.
339
00:17:08,594 --> 00:17:10,928
[narrator] she says johnny
ran off,
340
00:17:10,997 --> 00:17:12,396
And she drove away.
341
00:17:13,165 --> 00:17:14,798
Essentially, she got tired of
drivin' around
342
00:17:14,868 --> 00:17:17,935
And pulled into a commercial lot
where there was businesses,
343
00:17:18,003 --> 00:17:19,904
And was just waiting on a call
from johnny.
344
00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:22,473
[jason] we asked her if it was
road rage.
345
00:17:22,542 --> 00:17:25,109
We asked her
if they had followed adan.
346
00:17:25,611 --> 00:17:28,079
At first, she said that it
could've been road rage,
347
00:17:28,147 --> 00:17:30,081
But then she said
that it wasn't road rage,
348
00:17:30,149 --> 00:17:31,249
That they were not
following him.
349
00:17:32,618 --> 00:17:36,120
Her explanation as to why,
why adan, why this intersection,
350
00:17:36,522 --> 00:17:38,156
Didn't make any sense.
351
00:17:38,558 --> 00:17:40,458
We were tryin' to explain to
her that
352
00:17:40,526 --> 00:17:43,661
What she was saying did
not add up.
353
00:17:46,799 --> 00:17:49,933
[narrator] she insists that
she has no idea
354
00:17:49,935 --> 00:17:52,103
Who adan katami is.
355
00:17:53,038 --> 00:17:55,038
She was adamant at
a certain point that
356
00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:56,607
That was all she that knew.
357
00:17:57,477 --> 00:17:59,610
I really didn't know what to
believe of what she said.
358
00:18:00,213 --> 00:18:04,147
She didn't do a very good job
explaining to us what happened.
359
00:18:04,550 --> 00:18:06,016
After the interview with
chariott,
360
00:18:06,085 --> 00:18:07,851
We believed there's
probable cause
361
00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,354
To place her under arrest for
the homicide
362
00:18:10,423 --> 00:18:11,755
Because she was the driver,
363
00:18:11,824 --> 00:18:13,825
Which would fall under
the felony murder rule.
364
00:18:17,129 --> 00:18:20,898
[narrator] despite two arrests
within hours of the murder,
365
00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:24,802
Investigators have more
questions than answers.
366
00:18:26,839 --> 00:18:29,373
We had the people that were
responsible for
367
00:18:29,442 --> 00:18:31,175
The act of shooting adan.
368
00:18:31,977 --> 00:18:35,179
Two people drove across
the country from tennessee,
369
00:18:35,247 --> 00:18:37,681
And shot a man in
a busy intersection,
370
00:18:38,017 --> 00:18:41,552
And the man that they shot had
no connection to them.
371
00:18:41,987 --> 00:18:43,955
It didn't feel random anymore.
372
00:18:44,824 --> 00:18:47,758
We didn't really know why they
made the choices that they made.
373
00:18:49,161 --> 00:18:50,761
[narrator] hoping to find
a link,
374
00:18:51,096 --> 00:18:53,397
Investigators request
a search warrant
375
00:18:53,399 --> 00:18:55,166
For johnny's cell phone records
376
00:18:56,101 --> 00:18:59,871
They then turn their attention
to the victim, adan katami.
377
00:19:00,473 --> 00:19:02,740
[nicholas] we immediately do
a victimology.
378
00:19:03,076 --> 00:19:04,341
Who is this guy?
Where is he from?
379
00:19:04,410 --> 00:19:06,143
Like, what has he done in
his past?
380
00:19:06,679 --> 00:19:10,748
He was working and taking care
of his daughter,
381
00:19:10,816 --> 00:19:12,383
And he was a family guy.
382
00:19:16,121 --> 00:19:17,955
[narrator] investigators
consider whether
383
00:19:18,023 --> 00:19:21,559
Adan's personal life played
a role in his murder.
384
00:19:22,628 --> 00:19:24,695
Most people that are victims of
a homicide
385
00:19:24,764 --> 00:19:25,963
Know their assailant.
386
00:19:27,199 --> 00:19:31,435
When the parent or co-parent of
a kid gets murdered,
387
00:19:31,504 --> 00:19:35,606
You have to at least look at
a former relationship.
388
00:19:35,875 --> 00:19:37,641
In this case, monica,
389
00:19:37,643 --> 00:19:39,643
Who's the mother of
his daughter.
390
00:19:39,712 --> 00:19:42,313
Until you are not a suspect,
everyone's a suspect.
391
00:19:43,248 --> 00:19:44,448
[nicholas] you start at adan,
392
00:19:44,450 --> 00:19:45,616
And you can start working
your way out.
393
00:19:45,685 --> 00:19:48,185
On most crimes like this,
when like a,
394
00:19:48,254 --> 00:19:49,720
You have an ex,
395
00:19:49,789 --> 00:19:51,822
They're always gonna be
suspect number one, right?
396
00:19:51,891 --> 00:19:54,792
Because there's a motive
already laid out for you.
397
00:19:55,928 --> 00:19:59,564
[music]
398
00:20:04,035 --> 00:20:05,770
[music]
399
00:20:08,174 --> 00:20:12,209
[narrator] within a few hours of
the murder of adan katami,
400
00:20:12,812 --> 00:20:15,646
Investigators have two suspects
in custody:
401
00:20:15,715 --> 00:20:20,585
Driver chariott burks and
alleged shooter johnny wright.
402
00:20:21,887 --> 00:20:24,622
It seemed like what happened to
adan wasn't random.
403
00:20:24,690 --> 00:20:27,325
There's some sort of connection
to the assailant.
404
00:20:27,327 --> 00:20:31,329
So then, we started to look into
connections to adan.
405
00:20:35,334 --> 00:20:37,868
[narrator] detectives reach out
to monica palau,
406
00:20:37,937 --> 00:20:40,804
The mother of adan's
four year old daughter.
407
00:20:41,907 --> 00:20:44,041
I drove to where it happened,
and the police just said,
408
00:20:44,109 --> 00:20:47,010
"go home and then we'll come to
you, like, later."
409
00:20:47,580 --> 00:20:50,581
We wanted to see where,
where she was at that time,
410
00:20:50,650 --> 00:20:53,517
And to see how she reacted
to our interview.
411
00:20:53,853 --> 00:20:56,587
So, we went and we talked to
her at her home.
412
00:21:00,092 --> 00:21:02,526
[narrator] monica shares
a chilling revelation
413
00:21:02,594 --> 00:21:05,229
About the day of adan's murder.
414
00:21:06,732 --> 00:21:08,165
[jason] when we interviewed
monica,
415
00:21:08,234 --> 00:21:09,566
She was the one
that told us that
416
00:21:09,635 --> 00:21:11,969
He was on the way to, to
retrieve their daughter.
417
00:21:13,305 --> 00:21:15,606
[monica] that morning that
he passed,
418
00:21:15,675 --> 00:21:18,308
I got a call from one of
his friends.
419
00:21:18,844 --> 00:21:21,011
And they were just like,
"have you talked to adan?
420
00:21:21,781 --> 00:21:24,582
I think that he got in
a accident or something."
421
00:21:25,418 --> 00:21:26,717
I said, "is he okay?"
422
00:21:26,786 --> 00:21:28,619
And then they were like,
"no, it was, like, fatal."
423
00:21:30,189 --> 00:21:34,125
The timeframe of how close it
was to adan picking
424
00:21:34,193 --> 00:21:39,897
His daughter up from school was,
like, literally, like, so scary.
425
00:21:41,167 --> 00:21:44,268
It was, like, a complete shock.
426
00:21:45,538 --> 00:21:48,038
I just gave them
whatever information that I had.
427
00:21:48,107 --> 00:21:49,640
But I wasn't very helpful.
428
00:21:50,543 --> 00:21:52,175
Outside of the family,
429
00:21:52,245 --> 00:21:55,212
He really didn't involve me
much with
430
00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:59,049
Other things that had to do
with his own personal life.
431
00:21:59,952 --> 00:22:02,053
[nicholas] that definitely paid
even more credibility
432
00:22:02,121 --> 00:22:03,687
To the fact that she was just
433
00:22:03,689 --> 00:22:05,856
Completely blown away at
this whole thing.
434
00:22:08,561 --> 00:22:11,228
If she's hiring somebody to
kill her ex, right?
435
00:22:12,097 --> 00:22:14,197
Do you want that to be done
while he's going to pick her,
436
00:22:14,267 --> 00:22:15,933
His daughter up from school?
437
00:22:16,669 --> 00:22:18,435
You're not gonna put
your child in danger.
438
00:22:19,038 --> 00:22:21,772
Through her interview,
we were able to rule out monica.
439
00:22:26,946 --> 00:22:29,380
[narrator] police also look into
selena,
440
00:22:29,448 --> 00:22:31,248
The mother of adan's son.
441
00:22:32,051 --> 00:22:34,151
[jason] there was no
custody dispute,
442
00:22:34,219 --> 00:22:37,120
None of the things that you
would typically see
443
00:22:37,190 --> 00:22:41,759
In a former relationship
homicide.
444
00:22:41,827 --> 00:22:43,327
So, we were able to eliminate
445
00:22:43,395 --> 00:22:46,097
The mothers of
both of his children quickly.
446
00:22:47,099 --> 00:22:50,000
[narrator] investigators
reach out to adan's loved ones.
447
00:22:51,003 --> 00:22:52,669
[matt] we had a conversation
early in
448
00:22:52,738 --> 00:22:56,006
The investigation with
adan's family to say, you know,
449
00:22:56,075 --> 00:22:57,174
"does he have any enemies?"
450
00:22:57,243 --> 00:22:58,342
And they were like, "no."
451
00:22:59,444 --> 00:23:02,413
[lita] the police questioned
a lot of people,
452
00:23:02,481 --> 00:23:03,514
His mother, his sister.
453
00:23:03,582 --> 00:23:08,185
But the family really didn't
know how this had happened.
454
00:23:08,788 --> 00:23:10,487
[narrator] they tell
investigators
455
00:23:10,556 --> 00:23:13,123
That the only trouble adan
had recently
456
00:23:13,192 --> 00:23:15,058
Was in his professional life.
457
00:23:16,028 --> 00:23:19,863
[jason] adan was in the process
of trying to open
458
00:23:19,865 --> 00:23:22,265
A medical marijuana dispensary
in san francisco.
459
00:23:22,702 --> 00:23:26,970
He was with some guys that were
from los angeles
460
00:23:27,039 --> 00:23:28,972
And had a start
in this business.
461
00:23:29,375 --> 00:23:30,507
[matt] they wanted to open
a little
462
00:23:30,576 --> 00:23:32,543
Cannabis dispensary business.
463
00:23:32,611 --> 00:23:34,711
There was a location that had
been picked out
464
00:23:34,780 --> 00:23:37,415
In the excelsior district
in san francisco.
465
00:23:42,121 --> 00:23:45,189
[narrator] but adan found
the highly-competitive industry
466
00:23:45,257 --> 00:23:48,458
More difficult to navigate
than he'd imagined.
467
00:23:48,994 --> 00:23:51,629
The laws in california are very
strict,
468
00:23:52,097 --> 00:23:55,398
And you have to really know what
you're doing.
469
00:23:56,035 --> 00:23:58,301
And in san francisco
and in another counties,
470
00:23:58,371 --> 00:23:59,770
You need to get
a conditional use permit
471
00:23:59,838 --> 00:24:01,471
To open a marijuana dispensary.
472
00:24:02,275 --> 00:24:05,776
[narrator] after adan sunk money
into renting the space,
473
00:24:05,844 --> 00:24:09,013
He and his la partners
ran into issues.
474
00:24:10,015 --> 00:24:12,315
[nicholas] the property owner of
the building
475
00:24:12,385 --> 00:24:13,650
That they wanted to use
476
00:24:13,719 --> 00:24:15,919
Got screwed out of some money
477
00:24:15,921 --> 00:24:18,622
From the gentleman from
southern california.
478
00:24:19,424 --> 00:24:21,158
He knew adan was tied to them.
479
00:24:21,227 --> 00:24:25,028
So, he wasn't really eager
to do business with adan.
480
00:24:25,798 --> 00:24:28,932
[narrator] soon, adan cut ties
with the la group,
481
00:24:29,001 --> 00:24:31,101
And began seeking a new partner
482
00:24:31,937 --> 00:24:33,204
[nicholas] adan then says,
483
00:24:33,272 --> 00:24:35,239
"well, hey, let's see if I can
make a go with this."
484
00:24:35,307 --> 00:24:37,975
Right?
In comes tikisha.
485
00:24:40,646 --> 00:24:43,880
[narrator] tikisha upshaw was
born in 1979
486
00:24:43,882 --> 00:24:45,950
And raised in the bay area.
487
00:24:46,886 --> 00:24:48,619
[nicholas] she has
half-brothers.
488
00:24:48,687 --> 00:24:52,522
Her dad got divorced or
separated from the boys' mom.
489
00:24:52,924 --> 00:24:55,792
And then he got remarried to
tikisha's mom,
490
00:24:55,794 --> 00:24:57,060
And then, obviously,
491
00:24:57,062 --> 00:24:59,463
Tikisha's a product of
their marriage.
492
00:25:02,868 --> 00:25:04,034
[narrator] as a young woman,
493
00:25:04,103 --> 00:25:07,204
Tikisha set out to forge
her own path.
494
00:25:08,373 --> 00:25:09,973
[rob] she wasn't gonna take no
for an answer.
495
00:25:10,042 --> 00:25:12,776
She was a person that wanted to
get somethin' done.
496
00:25:12,778 --> 00:25:14,178
She should make it happen.
497
00:25:16,715 --> 00:25:18,081
[narrator] when
medical marijuana
498
00:25:18,150 --> 00:25:21,852
Was legalized in california in
1996,
499
00:25:22,187 --> 00:25:23,387
Tikisha wanted in.
500
00:25:24,823 --> 00:25:29,393
I would classify miss upshaw as
an ambitious entrepreneur.
501
00:25:29,729 --> 00:25:31,862
She was gonna be the first
black woman
502
00:25:31,864 --> 00:25:33,864
To have a dispensary in,
in san francisco.
503
00:25:33,932 --> 00:25:35,499
I couldn't help but rally
behind her.
504
00:25:36,035 --> 00:25:38,669
[narrator] tikisha worked hard
toward her dream.
505
00:25:39,838 --> 00:25:41,338
[rob] tikisha would always
look for
506
00:25:41,407 --> 00:25:42,572
Different ways to work together.
507
00:25:42,642 --> 00:25:45,409
Our company launched as
the first telemedicine company
508
00:25:45,477 --> 00:25:47,044
To serve medical
cannabis patients.
509
00:25:49,314 --> 00:25:52,182
[narrator] networking would be
key to her success.
510
00:25:53,819 --> 00:25:56,019
[nicholas] tikisha seemed to be
very close with
511
00:25:56,088 --> 00:25:58,955
The president of the naacp in
san francisco.
512
00:25:59,391 --> 00:26:01,892
There's some pictures out there
with her with, like,
513
00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:05,028
The interim chief of
san francisco pd.
514
00:26:05,565 --> 00:26:06,897
[rob] she was very charismatic,
515
00:26:06,965 --> 00:26:08,865
Whether it was at
the police stations,
516
00:26:08,934 --> 00:26:11,668
Talking to the constituents and
people in the neighborhood,
517
00:26:11,737 --> 00:26:13,070
Addressing their concerns.
518
00:26:13,639 --> 00:26:15,839
[narrator] tikisha had
the connections,
519
00:26:15,841 --> 00:26:18,576
Now she just needed
a business partner.
520
00:26:19,845 --> 00:26:23,113
[matt] adan and tikisha upshaw
had met at a club,
521
00:26:23,182 --> 00:26:24,681
According to some of
his friends,
522
00:26:24,750 --> 00:26:26,717
And started talking
about the cannabis business.
523
00:26:26,785 --> 00:26:28,451
When adan had met tikisha,
524
00:26:28,521 --> 00:26:30,654
She talked about
her political connections.
525
00:26:30,923 --> 00:26:32,890
And so, that's where that
sort of marriage
526
00:26:32,958 --> 00:26:34,758
For this business was sort of
consummated.
527
00:26:37,563 --> 00:26:38,895
[narrator] adan told tikisha
528
00:26:38,964 --> 00:26:40,997
That if she could secure
the permit,
529
00:26:41,066 --> 00:26:43,100
He would take care of
the product.
530
00:26:44,069 --> 00:26:46,603
[matt] I think adan had a lot of
the marijuana connections,
531
00:26:46,672 --> 00:26:49,106
And adan had the lease on
the piece of property
532
00:26:49,174 --> 00:26:50,975
That they wanted to open
the dispensary.
533
00:26:52,010 --> 00:26:53,376
[narrator] with a handshake,
534
00:26:53,445 --> 00:26:55,112
The two became partners in
535
00:26:55,114 --> 00:26:57,147
Green god's compassion
dispensary
536
00:26:57,216 --> 00:26:59,750
In the fall of 2015.
537
00:27:00,719 --> 00:27:01,752
[jason] tikisha's role
was to get
538
00:27:01,820 --> 00:27:05,688
The community to embrace
this dispensary.
539
00:27:05,690 --> 00:27:07,924
He was the partner sort of
behind the scenes,
540
00:27:07,993 --> 00:27:09,660
And she was the public face
of it.
541
00:27:10,229 --> 00:27:12,061
[nicholas] a lot of the money
that's comin' from behind
542
00:27:12,063 --> 00:27:13,797
Is actually adan's,
to pay for, you know,
543
00:27:13,866 --> 00:27:16,233
Renovations
and lighting and painting,
544
00:27:16,301 --> 00:27:18,601
And, you know,
all the business permits.
545
00:27:18,603 --> 00:27:19,503
[matt] they thought that
546
00:27:19,571 --> 00:27:21,071
The san francisco
planning commission
547
00:27:21,073 --> 00:27:23,707
Was gonna approve
their conditional use permit
548
00:27:23,775 --> 00:27:25,175
To open this dispensary.
549
00:27:29,181 --> 00:27:31,948
[narrator] after almost a year
of working together,
550
00:27:32,017 --> 00:27:35,986
The hearing for their permit
was scheduled for July 17th.
551
00:27:36,055 --> 00:27:39,456
Just four days after adan was
killed.
552
00:27:40,092 --> 00:27:42,259
But adan's family tells
detectives
553
00:27:42,327 --> 00:27:45,162
He'd begun to have doubts
about tikisha.
554
00:27:46,398 --> 00:27:50,100
[lita] when adan and keisha
started this venture,
555
00:27:50,503 --> 00:27:52,535
He was the sole owner.
556
00:27:53,172 --> 00:27:57,340
At some later point in time,
he put her name on the business.
557
00:27:57,610 --> 00:27:59,443
But then she wanted more,
558
00:27:59,511 --> 00:28:04,648
And he was not willing to just
hand over the business.
559
00:28:05,650 --> 00:28:07,818
So, things started to
deteriorate.
560
00:28:08,621 --> 00:28:11,188
They were 50/50 partners on
a handshake,
561
00:28:11,256 --> 00:28:14,024
And they were supposed to get it
memorialized by a lawyer.
562
00:28:14,092 --> 00:28:17,394
And as he's repeatedly
requesting these meetings,
563
00:28:17,796 --> 00:28:19,262
She wasn't returning his calls.
564
00:28:19,331 --> 00:28:21,798
He felt, I think, he was
bein' sort of iced out.
565
00:28:22,301 --> 00:28:24,100
[narrator] adan's family
explain that
566
00:28:24,169 --> 00:28:28,571
His distrust turned into fearin
tikisha's every move.
567
00:28:29,174 --> 00:28:31,308
[nicholas] adan later went to
his uncle, and said, like,
568
00:28:31,376 --> 00:28:34,577
"I think I'm gonna get
screwed in this deal.
569
00:28:34,847 --> 00:28:36,246
I have all this money out there,
570
00:28:36,315 --> 00:28:38,348
But she could just walk away
with this whole thing."
571
00:28:38,917 --> 00:28:39,550
His uncle said,
572
00:28:40,385 --> 00:28:43,320
"well, if she does that,
we'll sue her,
573
00:28:43,388 --> 00:28:44,787
Because we can prove
574
00:28:44,789 --> 00:28:46,523
That you have this much money
invested in it".
575
00:28:47,326 --> 00:28:49,526
[narrator] by the summer of
2016,
576
00:28:50,062 --> 00:28:52,896
Tension between the partners ha
hit a boiling point,
577
00:28:53,232 --> 00:28:56,466
And adan told tikisha
he wanted out.
578
00:28:57,402 --> 00:28:59,636
Adan demanded to be bought out
of the business
579
00:28:59,705 --> 00:29:01,105
For a million dollars.
580
00:29:05,044 --> 00:29:08,278
[narrator] now, investigators
are determined to find out:
581
00:29:08,347 --> 00:29:11,014
Could the falling out have
anything to do
582
00:29:11,016 --> 00:29:12,816
With adan's murder?
583
00:29:13,418 --> 00:29:15,719
[matt] once adan's family talked
to the police,
584
00:29:15,787 --> 00:29:16,787
The investigators,
585
00:29:16,855 --> 00:29:19,490
About adan's business partner,
586
00:29:19,558 --> 00:29:20,924
The questioning became,
587
00:29:20,992 --> 00:29:22,626
"well, who is this person?
Where does she live?"
588
00:29:22,694 --> 00:29:24,027
You know, "what is she all
about?"
589
00:29:24,096 --> 00:29:25,863
And they started to look at her.
590
00:29:31,069 --> 00:29:33,169
[narrator] investigators now
question
591
00:29:33,238 --> 00:29:35,806
If there's any connection
between the shooter,
592
00:29:35,874 --> 00:29:38,408
Johnny wright,
and tikisha upshaw.
593
00:29:39,744 --> 00:29:41,879
One week after adan's murder,
594
00:29:41,881 --> 00:29:44,180
The warrant on johnny's
cell phone
595
00:29:44,249 --> 00:29:45,916
Finally comes through.
596
00:29:46,585 --> 00:29:48,651
[nicholas] johnny's phone is
a burner phone,
597
00:29:48,653 --> 00:29:50,187
It is not registered to anybody.
598
00:29:50,255 --> 00:29:52,623
It appears like it was just
activated like,
599
00:29:52,691 --> 00:29:54,290
10, 15 days earlier.
600
00:29:55,094 --> 00:29:57,260
There's very,
very few text messages,
601
00:29:57,329 --> 00:30:01,164
And the person that they're
texting is this 530 number.
602
00:30:01,233 --> 00:30:04,100
530 is an area code from
northern california.
603
00:30:04,804 --> 00:30:07,971
So, write a search warrant for
the 530 number.
604
00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:09,940
This is also a burner phone.
605
00:30:13,211 --> 00:30:16,112
[narrator] investigators trace
the location of the calls
606
00:30:16,181 --> 00:30:18,148
Made from the second phone.
607
00:30:18,850 --> 00:30:20,050
[jason] so, when you make
a phone call,
608
00:30:20,118 --> 00:30:21,584
Send a text message,
609
00:30:21,586 --> 00:30:25,055
Your phone reaches out and,
and uses a cell tower,
610
00:30:25,123 --> 00:30:26,623
And that creates a record.
611
00:30:27,258 --> 00:30:28,859
[matt] they were looking at
the location
612
00:30:28,927 --> 00:30:30,160
That these calls were made to,
613
00:30:30,228 --> 00:30:34,197
It became obvious that this
burner phone was making calls
614
00:30:34,266 --> 00:30:37,133
From where tikisha upshaw lived
in the bay area.
615
00:30:37,202 --> 00:30:39,402
So, it became,
"well, let's look in to see
616
00:30:39,471 --> 00:30:41,438
Who johnny wright was in
touch with.
617
00:30:41,506 --> 00:30:43,440
And did they have any connection
to mr. Katami?"
618
00:30:43,508 --> 00:30:45,342
And that came down to only
one person,
619
00:30:45,410 --> 00:30:46,977
Which was ms. Upshaw.
620
00:30:49,481 --> 00:30:50,647
[narrator] coming up.
621
00:30:50,716 --> 00:30:55,485
Detectives suspect tikisha has
a more illicit business venture
622
00:30:56,388 --> 00:30:57,754
I don't think it was
her groceries
623
00:30:57,823 --> 00:31:00,190
That he loaded in
the duffle bag, right?
624
00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,428
[narrator] will a sting finally
yield answers?
625
00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:13,370
[music]
626
00:31:17,809 --> 00:31:20,244
[music]
627
00:31:22,547 --> 00:31:24,982
[narrator] investigators have
just discovered
628
00:31:25,050 --> 00:31:28,819
That days before adan katami
was gunned down,
629
00:31:28,887 --> 00:31:30,887
Alleged shooter johnny wright
630
00:31:30,955 --> 00:31:32,722
Was communicating on
a burner phone
631
00:31:32,791 --> 00:31:36,226
Near the home of adan's former
business partner,
632
00:31:36,428 --> 00:31:37,828
Tikisha upshaw.
633
00:31:38,831 --> 00:31:42,098
[matt] johnny's burner phone was
very close from the cell towers
634
00:31:42,167 --> 00:31:43,700
From ms. Upshaw's house,
635
00:31:43,768 --> 00:31:46,036
And sometimes zeroed in on
her house.
636
00:31:46,671 --> 00:31:48,304
[narrator] on August 1st,
637
00:31:48,306 --> 00:31:52,009
Investigators obtain a warrant
to surveil tikisha's home.
638
00:31:56,781 --> 00:31:58,314
For the next several months,
639
00:31:58,383 --> 00:32:02,052
They keep a close eye on
the budding entrepreneur.
640
00:32:03,355 --> 00:32:05,688
[jason] there was duffel bags
that came out from her house
641
00:32:05,690 --> 00:32:06,957
And put into a car.
642
00:32:08,493 --> 00:32:10,227
[nicholas] at that point,
we can only speculate.
643
00:32:10,896 --> 00:32:12,729
I don't think it was
her groceries that he loaded in
644
00:32:12,797 --> 00:32:14,130
The duffle bag, right?
645
00:32:14,199 --> 00:32:15,999
And we thought most likely
probably drugs.
646
00:32:17,535 --> 00:32:20,437
But we were dealin' with
a bigger crime here than drugs.
647
00:32:20,872 --> 00:32:24,007
We have a murder here,
conspiracy to commit murder.
648
00:32:26,678 --> 00:32:28,946
[narrator] as the surveillance
continues,
649
00:32:29,014 --> 00:32:31,281
Detectives find
a possible connection
650
00:32:31,349 --> 00:32:33,984
Between tikisha and
johnny wright.
651
00:32:34,953 --> 00:32:36,119
[nicholas] what I found out
is that
652
00:32:36,188 --> 00:32:38,088
Tikisha's dad portion of
the family
653
00:32:38,156 --> 00:32:39,656
Was based out of tennessee.
654
00:32:40,492 --> 00:32:42,926
Johnny was also from memphis.
655
00:32:44,229 --> 00:32:47,698
Connecting tikisha to tennessee
was a big moment.
656
00:32:48,300 --> 00:32:49,466
That was definitely
an a-ha moment.
657
00:32:49,534 --> 00:32:52,169
Like, "okay, now,
now it's making sense."
658
00:32:55,140 --> 00:32:58,108
[jason] when you have all of
these factors,
659
00:32:58,777 --> 00:33:02,512
There's ample probable cause to
get her phone records.
660
00:33:03,248 --> 00:33:05,181
[matt] so, that's when
the real work began
661
00:33:05,250 --> 00:33:06,283
With, with the cell phones.
662
00:33:07,652 --> 00:33:09,652
Ultimately, it was establishing
that she may had a motive
663
00:33:09,721 --> 00:33:11,254
To commit this crime.
664
00:33:11,256 --> 00:33:13,357
Now, let's do an investigation
to see if what it was.
665
00:33:16,861 --> 00:33:19,529
[narrator] with remaining
questions on motive,
666
00:33:19,598 --> 00:33:23,432
Detectives use cell records
and spot a clear connection
667
00:33:23,434 --> 00:33:25,702
Between tikisha's personal
cell phone
668
00:33:25,770 --> 00:33:29,906
And the burner phone used to
communicate with johnny wright.
669
00:33:30,742 --> 00:33:33,243
We know this person on the other
end of this 530 number
670
00:33:33,311 --> 00:33:34,710
Is directly involved.
671
00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:37,147
So, once we got
the phone records
672
00:33:37,215 --> 00:33:38,848
For tikisha's real phone,
673
00:33:38,917 --> 00:33:42,418
We were able to see that
the cell site usage matched up
674
00:33:42,487 --> 00:33:44,754
With the burner phone,
this 530 number.
675
00:33:45,190 --> 00:33:46,656
[narrator] detectives determine
676
00:33:46,725 --> 00:33:50,260
That for nearly two weeks
prior to adan's murder,
677
00:33:50,328 --> 00:33:52,029
Tikisha's personal cell phone
678
00:33:52,097 --> 00:33:55,398
And the burner phone traveled
in lock step.
679
00:33:56,034 --> 00:33:59,169
Then, 12 days
before adan's murder,
680
00:33:59,237 --> 00:34:00,970
Tikisha took a trip.
681
00:34:01,740 --> 00:34:04,074
[jason] so, both phones traveled
to berkeley.
682
00:34:04,476 --> 00:34:07,143
We were able to figure out that
those phones traveled to
683
00:34:07,212 --> 00:34:10,079
A very close friend of
tikisha's, to his home.
684
00:34:10,582 --> 00:34:12,282
The person whose house
she went to
685
00:34:12,350 --> 00:34:13,517
Is a guy named wessley brown.
686
00:34:15,787 --> 00:34:18,855
[narrator] later, tikisha's
phone went back home,
687
00:34:18,923 --> 00:34:21,290
But the burner phone remained o
berkeley
688
00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:22,959
With wessley brown.
689
00:34:23,962 --> 00:34:28,698
The burner phone calls
johnny's phone from berkeley.
690
00:34:29,701 --> 00:34:31,668
They have a very
brief conversation,
691
00:34:32,070 --> 00:34:34,304
And then the burner phone is
powered off.
692
00:34:35,306 --> 00:34:37,007
But immediately
after that conversation,
693
00:34:37,542 --> 00:34:40,209
Wessley's real phone calls
tikisha's real phone,
694
00:34:40,279 --> 00:34:42,145
And they have a conversation.
695
00:34:42,681 --> 00:34:44,881
[matt] wessley was sort of
the middleman,
696
00:34:44,949 --> 00:34:46,516
Taking calls from johnny wright
697
00:34:46,585 --> 00:34:49,152
And relaying potential
information back to him.
698
00:34:49,921 --> 00:34:52,089
[narrator] three hours before
the murder,
699
00:34:52,157 --> 00:34:54,658
The burner phone makes
a final call.
700
00:34:55,894 --> 00:35:00,029
[jason] there's a return call
from wessley to tikisha.
701
00:35:00,565 --> 00:35:03,532
And then the burner phone goes
off the network forever.
702
00:35:03,534 --> 00:35:06,536
And that sets in motion
adan's murder.
703
00:35:09,974 --> 00:35:13,109
[narrator] almost six months
after adan's murder,
704
00:35:13,178 --> 00:35:17,547
Detectives go to tikisha's home
armed with an arrest warrant.
705
00:35:18,516 --> 00:35:20,383
[jason] there was probable cause
to say
706
00:35:20,451 --> 00:35:22,585
That this phone
belongs to tikisha,
707
00:35:22,654 --> 00:35:24,854
And these records will likely
show that
708
00:35:24,923 --> 00:35:27,424
A felony was committed
and this person committed it.
709
00:35:28,059 --> 00:35:29,459
[nicholas] when tikisha was
arrested,
710
00:35:29,528 --> 00:35:32,162
We've obviously performed
a search warrant at her house.
711
00:35:33,598 --> 00:35:35,531
In the basement of her home
712
00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:38,535
Was a sophisticated indoor
marijuana grow.
713
00:35:39,538 --> 00:35:42,472
She was growing it illegally and
selling it illegally.
714
00:35:43,208 --> 00:35:44,508
[narrator] at the same time,
715
00:35:44,576 --> 00:35:46,910
Wessley brown is arrested at
his home
716
00:35:46,978 --> 00:35:51,547
On felony murder charges for
his role in adan's death.
717
00:35:52,016 --> 00:35:53,282
[matt] they arrested
wessley brown
718
00:35:53,352 --> 00:35:55,484
And tikisha upshaw
simultaneously,
719
00:35:55,554 --> 00:35:57,353
Because they didn't want one
to get arrested
720
00:35:57,422 --> 00:35:59,456
And tell the other
and get their story straight.
721
00:36:00,292 --> 00:36:03,626
[narrator] at the station,
tikisha refuses to talk.
722
00:36:04,362 --> 00:36:06,963
She, like, just stone cold
sat there and said,
723
00:36:07,031 --> 00:36:08,532
"okay, I want my attorney."
724
00:36:11,402 --> 00:36:13,603
[narrator] investigators find
wessley brown
725
00:36:13,672 --> 00:36:16,273
Only slightly more forthcoming.
726
00:36:17,542 --> 00:36:18,941
[nicholas] he gave us
a little bit of like,
727
00:36:19,011 --> 00:36:20,977
"hey, we've been friends since
we were kids."
728
00:36:21,646 --> 00:36:23,913
He played the around
the subject game
729
00:36:23,982 --> 00:36:25,315
And avoided everything.
730
00:36:26,017 --> 00:36:28,150
It wasn't until we brought
the cell phone records out
731
00:36:28,220 --> 00:36:29,752
And kind of told him like,
732
00:36:29,754 --> 00:36:32,756
"hey, look, we know you're
lying because of x, y, and z."
733
00:36:37,662 --> 00:36:40,563
[narrator] working off a hunch
that wessley and tikisha
734
00:36:40,565 --> 00:36:42,232
Might talk to each other,
735
00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:44,935
Detectives place them in
neighboring cells,
736
00:36:45,003 --> 00:36:47,504
Along with a recording device.
737
00:36:48,873 --> 00:36:52,442
Neither wessley nor, nor tikisha
knew there were recorders.
738
00:36:52,510 --> 00:36:54,444
We were hoping that he would
talk to her.
739
00:37:13,598 --> 00:37:16,433
Wessley is asking her, like,
"what the hell is goin' on?"
740
00:37:16,435 --> 00:37:18,134
She says, "don't say anything.
741
00:37:18,603 --> 00:37:20,370
I'll get us both
great attorneys."
742
00:37:28,112 --> 00:37:30,947
Telling someone, "maybe you
shouldn't be saying that,"
743
00:37:31,015 --> 00:37:33,750
The criminal implications
become pretty clear.
744
00:37:37,655 --> 00:37:39,356
[narrator] prosecutors move
forward,
745
00:37:39,424 --> 00:37:42,759
Charging them both with
premeditated murder.
746
00:37:43,728 --> 00:37:47,530
Johnny wright and chariott burk
remain behind bars.
747
00:37:47,866 --> 00:37:50,199
Even in light of tikisha's
arrest,
748
00:37:50,201 --> 00:37:52,736
Johnny's lips remain sealed.
749
00:37:53,972 --> 00:37:56,406
[matt] johnny wright,
the one thing he never did
750
00:37:56,474 --> 00:37:58,007
Was admit in any way
751
00:37:58,075 --> 00:38:01,278
That ms. Upshaw had,
had hired him to do it.
752
00:38:05,049 --> 00:38:05,949
[narrator] coming up.
753
00:38:07,085 --> 00:38:10,052
Will a jury be swayed by
tikisha's charms?
754
00:38:10,489 --> 00:38:12,288
So many pictures of her with
755
00:38:12,356 --> 00:38:14,290
A lot of who's who of
san francisco.
756
00:38:15,159 --> 00:38:18,461
[narrator] and a tragic twist
comes out at trial.
757
00:38:19,231 --> 00:38:21,331
She had adan killed over
758
00:38:21,399 --> 00:38:23,433
A business that was
worth nothing.
759
00:38:25,169 --> 00:38:27,937
[music]
760
00:38:33,010 --> 00:38:35,378
[music]
761
00:38:37,548 --> 00:38:39,516
[narrator] by 2019,
762
00:38:39,584 --> 00:38:42,418
Authorities plan to hold
tikisha upshaw
763
00:38:42,487 --> 00:38:45,187
And her co-conspirators
accountable
764
00:38:45,189 --> 00:38:47,424
For the murder of adan katami.
765
00:38:48,527 --> 00:38:50,026
But in the end,
766
00:38:50,095 --> 00:38:53,430
The prosecution is forced to
make a difficult decision.
767
00:38:54,465 --> 00:38:55,465
[matt] there was
a strong suspicion
768
00:38:55,533 --> 00:38:58,335
That wessley brown
helped aid and abet the murder.
769
00:38:58,403 --> 00:38:59,936
But ultimately,
770
00:39:00,004 --> 00:39:02,605
The murder charges as to
wessley brown were dismissed.
771
00:39:03,608 --> 00:39:05,407
I didn't feel comfortable
proceeding on
772
00:39:05,409 --> 00:39:06,476
A murder charge against him,
773
00:39:06,544 --> 00:39:08,978
'cause I did not believe
I could prove his involvement
774
00:39:09,047 --> 00:39:10,446
Beyond a reasonable doubt.
775
00:39:11,115 --> 00:39:13,582
When he was arrested and
his house was searched,
776
00:39:13,652 --> 00:39:15,718
There were some illegal parts
of firearms,
777
00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:17,019
I think some ammunition.
778
00:39:17,088 --> 00:39:19,055
So, he ended up pleading guilty
to that charge,
779
00:39:19,123 --> 00:39:21,424
And, and being
released before the trial.
780
00:39:25,096 --> 00:39:27,197
[narrator] tikisha's trial
begins
781
00:39:27,265 --> 00:39:29,599
In October of 2019.
782
00:39:30,334 --> 00:39:31,768
Prosecutors allege
783
00:39:31,836 --> 00:39:34,937
That the tension between
tikisha and adan escalated
784
00:39:35,006 --> 00:39:38,808
As the hearing date for the
dispensary permit drew closer.
785
00:39:39,944 --> 00:39:41,811
[nicholas] adan was asking her,
like,
786
00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:43,946
"hey, I don't like where
this is going.
787
00:39:44,015 --> 00:39:45,915
Why don't you just buy me out of
this thing?
788
00:39:45,917 --> 00:39:48,318
Give me a million bucks
and I'll back out."
789
00:39:49,353 --> 00:39:50,786
[matt] why adan wanted to be
bought out
790
00:39:50,855 --> 00:39:51,721
For the amount that he did,
791
00:39:51,790 --> 00:39:55,892
Both adan and ms. Upshaw thought
they had something
792
00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:57,359
That if they are allowed to
open,
793
00:39:57,429 --> 00:39:58,528
They would have made lots
of money.
794
00:39:58,596 --> 00:40:01,097
But that number wasn't something
she could come up with,
795
00:40:01,166 --> 00:40:04,200
And it was cheaper for her to
hire a hitman to kill him.
796
00:40:04,269 --> 00:40:05,335
She made a calculation.
797
00:40:06,871 --> 00:40:09,205
So, the drive to commit a crime
like this is, comes back to
798
00:40:09,274 --> 00:40:11,775
You know, your deadly sins,
greed.
799
00:40:13,578 --> 00:40:14,777
Convincing yourself that
800
00:40:14,846 --> 00:40:16,478
You're gonna have this
successful business,
801
00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:18,515
And not wanting to share with
anybody.
802
00:40:19,850 --> 00:40:21,818
[narrator] prosecutors argue
that tikisha turned to
803
00:40:21,886 --> 00:40:24,787
Her connections in the memphis
drug world
804
00:40:24,789 --> 00:40:26,356
To find a hitman.
805
00:40:27,692 --> 00:40:30,126
Tikisha was communicating with
somebody in memphis.
806
00:40:30,195 --> 00:40:34,697
And that person was heavily in
touch with johnny's phones.
807
00:40:34,699 --> 00:40:36,265
So, there was somebody in
memphis
808
00:40:36,267 --> 00:40:40,069
That was a connection
between tikisha and johnny.
809
00:40:41,005 --> 00:40:42,905
The single biggest part of
this case
810
00:40:42,974 --> 00:40:47,710
That linked tikisha to johnny
was the phones.
811
00:40:48,213 --> 00:40:51,548
It was the, the burner phones
along with her real phone.
812
00:40:55,019 --> 00:40:58,320
[narrator] then, prosecutors
drop a bombshell.
813
00:40:58,322 --> 00:41:01,924
They reveal that just days afte
adan's murder,
814
00:41:01,993 --> 00:41:06,062
Tikisha got news about
the much-anticipated permit.
815
00:41:07,031 --> 00:41:09,698
The planning commission ended up
ruling 7-0
816
00:41:09,768 --> 00:41:11,801
Against opening this dispensary.
817
00:41:12,937 --> 00:41:15,905
This particular location
literally was two doors down
818
00:41:15,974 --> 00:41:19,175
From a neighborhood where
young kids go to school.
819
00:41:19,244 --> 00:41:21,477
And at the planning commission
meeting,
820
00:41:21,546 --> 00:41:23,546
The neighborhood came
out in force
821
00:41:23,615 --> 00:41:26,850
To speak out
against this dispensary.
822
00:41:27,785 --> 00:41:29,886
The toughest part about
this whole case
823
00:41:29,954 --> 00:41:33,289
Is the fact that she had adan
killed over a business
824
00:41:33,358 --> 00:41:34,390
That was worth nothing.
825
00:41:38,329 --> 00:41:41,564
[narrator] with wessley brown's
involvement never proven,
826
00:41:42,066 --> 00:41:46,702
Tikisha's defense tries to pin
him as the real mastermind.
827
00:41:47,639 --> 00:41:50,072
The murder charges as to him
were dismissed.
828
00:41:50,141 --> 00:41:52,008
Conveniently allowing ms. Upshaw
to say,
829
00:41:52,076 --> 00:41:54,343
"it was him!
It was the guy you dismissed."
830
00:41:54,879 --> 00:41:57,746
She never took accountability
for any of this.
831
00:41:57,748 --> 00:42:00,650
She has held out herself as
innocent.
832
00:42:01,519 --> 00:42:03,952
Even went so far
testifying during the trial
833
00:42:03,954 --> 00:42:05,654
That, you know, she loved adan,
834
00:42:05,724 --> 00:42:08,124
And she was sad by
this whole thing.
835
00:42:11,195 --> 00:42:13,095
[narrator] when the trial is
complete,
836
00:42:13,164 --> 00:42:16,532
The jury adjourns to deliberate
tikisha's fate.
837
00:42:17,568 --> 00:42:20,169
[matt] ms. Upshaw was convicted
of first-degree murder,
838
00:42:20,805 --> 00:42:23,973
With an enhancement that she did
it for financial gain.
839
00:42:24,876 --> 00:42:27,477
Ms. Upshaw was sentenced to life
in prison.
840
00:42:31,816 --> 00:42:34,416
[narrator] as for tikisha's
co-conspirators,
841
00:42:34,418 --> 00:42:36,653
Both accept plea deals.
842
00:42:37,722 --> 00:42:40,757
Johnny wright pled guilty to
first-degree murder.
843
00:42:40,759 --> 00:42:43,525
He was sentenced to 50 years to
life in prison.
844
00:42:44,328 --> 00:42:47,096
Chariott burks pled guilty
to accessory to murder,
845
00:42:47,499 --> 00:42:50,599
And was ultimately sentenced and
released after the trial.
846
00:42:50,669 --> 00:42:54,237
[music]
847
00:42:57,441 --> 00:42:58,774
[lita] adan was taken.
848
00:42:58,843 --> 00:43:01,511
From his family,
from his children,
849
00:43:01,846 --> 00:43:04,547
From his friends, his community.
850
00:43:05,249 --> 00:43:06,448
For what?
851
00:43:06,718 --> 00:43:09,852
There was nothing to gain by
it at all.
852
00:43:11,089 --> 00:43:14,556
It just changed our lives, like,
in such a big way,
853
00:43:14,726 --> 00:43:17,126
And it was just so unnecessary.
854
00:43:17,762 --> 00:43:19,929
It's just been devastating,
you know?
855
00:43:20,999 --> 00:43:22,398
But...
856
00:43:22,467 --> 00:43:24,633
He's still here with us,
and it's okay.
857
00:43:25,036 --> 00:43:27,003
We feel him and
he's a strong source,
858
00:43:27,071 --> 00:43:30,472
So he definitely has been
with us.
859
00:43:30,474 --> 00:43:32,875
[music]
860
00:43:34,646 --> 00:43:40,683
[music]