WEBVTT - Lillo Brancato Jr Interview 0:00:00.600 --> 0:00:07.360 The real people, real celebrity joined the breakfast more than 0:00:07.440 --> 0:00:10.520 everybody is DJ en vi Angela, Ye, Charlemagne the guy. 0:00:10.560 --> 0:00:12.480 We are the breakfast Club. We gotta guess with us 0:00:12.520 --> 0:00:14.480 this morning. And you know what's so crazy, man, we'd 0:00:14.480 --> 0:00:16.919 be having rappers in here, right who acts so hard 0:00:17.000 --> 0:00:19.800 core and act like they didn't did so much and 0:00:19.920 --> 0:00:23.319 having done nothing, they probably think you're a chef or something. Yeah, 0:00:24.320 --> 0:00:27.600 you put in that work. Lelo Broncado Junior. Yes, thank 0:00:27.640 --> 0:00:30.160 you morning. So you got talking to the Mike. We 0:00:30.280 --> 0:00:34.599 know you from Sopranos, right, um, Bronx Tail in particular, though, 0:00:34.640 --> 0:00:37.479 one of my favorite movies, Brox Tail Colo. How do 0:00:37.479 --> 0:00:41.960 you say collogio was your role in Sopranos? Um? I 0:00:42.080 --> 0:00:46.839 played Matthew Bevilaqua. I would say stockbroker, low level guy, 0:00:47.080 --> 0:00:49.080 trying to get in with you know, Tony and those guys, 0:00:49.640 --> 0:00:53.320 and uh, you know, ultimately you know I was killed 0:00:53.360 --> 0:00:55.680 on the show. Yeah you really talk like that. Yeah 0:00:55.840 --> 0:01:02.880 I don't know that. Oh yeah, yeah, that's my job. Now. 0:01:02.960 --> 0:01:05.040 You served ten years in prison or to eight to 0:01:05.120 --> 0:01:07.200 ten years I saved. I served eight out of a 0:01:07.280 --> 0:01:10.560 ten years eight everteen year sentence for attempted burglary, right 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:13.280 and uh and all three the police officers was shot 0:01:13.280 --> 0:01:15.320 actually during that robbery. Right, So what what I mean 0:01:15.319 --> 0:01:17.240 you served your time so you can talk about it, right, Yeah, 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:23.880 if the statue limitations up, what happened? No, No, I didn't. Uh, 0:01:24.480 --> 0:01:27.039 I was you know, I was convicted of the burglary, 0:01:27.360 --> 0:01:29.840 you know. And then the commission of that crime. In 0:01:29.920 --> 0:01:32.440 a commission of any felony, when someone it results in 0:01:32.480 --> 0:01:35.479 the depth of someone else, they called that felony murder. 0:01:35.800 --> 0:01:38.960 That's what I was charged with, not intentional murder. Um, 0:01:39.680 --> 0:01:41.640 your friend who you were with is actually the person 0:01:41.720 --> 0:01:43.319 that he's in jail for life, right, he got an 0:01:43.319 --> 0:01:45.480 actual life. So explain to us what happened on that day, 0:01:45.480 --> 0:01:47.960 December ten of two thousand and five. Um, you know, 0:01:48.000 --> 0:01:49.760 at that time of my life, I was, you know, 0:01:49.960 --> 0:01:54.680 addicted to drugs. I was addicted to crack, heroin, crack, Yeah, 0:01:54.760 --> 0:01:58.560 both both both drugs and uh, you know, I mean, 0:01:58.680 --> 0:02:00.520 you know, proud to shay I'm sober now eight years 0:02:01.360 --> 0:02:05.520 but um, you know that being said, that night, you know, 0:02:05.680 --> 0:02:08.280 we uh came to you know, uh, we got a 0:02:08.320 --> 0:02:12.240 little desperate. Um, we couldn't find any drugs knowing at 0:02:12.280 --> 0:02:15.440 anything I knew of a place where so you weren't 0:02:15.440 --> 0:02:17.280 acting at that time. So she had no money. No, 0:02:17.560 --> 0:02:19.359 we we did have money on us. It wasn't it 0:02:19.440 --> 0:02:21.600 wasn't enough to buy some heroin. No, No, it wasn't 0:02:21.639 --> 0:02:24.560 that we couldn't find heroin. The guys that we usually 0:02:24.680 --> 0:02:28.400 go to ran out. It was too late. We had 0:02:28.480 --> 0:02:30.400 money on us. It's not like we were going to 0:02:30.520 --> 0:02:32.320 rob the house for you know, a VCR or something 0:02:32.600 --> 0:02:34.880 that It was a house that I knew would have 0:02:35.040 --> 0:02:38.320 prescription you know, pills because I knew the guy from 0:02:38.400 --> 0:02:40.560 you know, way back when the prescription pills give you 0:02:40.600 --> 0:02:42.679 the same high as heroin in some cases. Right, yeah, 0:02:42.760 --> 0:02:45.400 you know you know opiates, know how to pay medication. 0:02:46.040 --> 0:02:48.120 It's all the same, you know on uh you know, 0:02:48.200 --> 0:02:50.639 on a your analysis, it would all come up the same. Gotcha. 0:02:51.480 --> 0:02:56.160 And uh we went to the house. Um, you know, 0:02:56.280 --> 0:02:59.040 I was really desperate to try to get in. Banged 0:02:59.080 --> 0:03:03.360 on the window, made all kinds of noise. No one answered, 0:03:03.680 --> 0:03:06.880 So eventually I broke the window. Um with your hand, 0:03:07.520 --> 0:03:11.680 with my foot, yan, the one is a high bat. Yeah. Um, 0:03:11.800 --> 0:03:15.040 you know they actually used my uh my boot and 0:03:15.400 --> 0:03:18.560 as evidence was they had microscopic last shards in the 0:03:18.639 --> 0:03:22.639 front which were consistent with the window. So you know, 0:03:22.720 --> 0:03:24.800 there was no saying that I didn't break the glass. 0:03:26.000 --> 0:03:32.240 Um The off duty police officer, Daniel Chotegy live next door. 0:03:32.480 --> 0:03:35.600 Oh okay, okay, he was off duty. I heard he 0:03:35.680 --> 0:03:40.920 had just finished the shift. Heard the noise came outside. 0:03:41.720 --> 0:03:45.440 I was walking away from the window, and that's when 0:03:45.480 --> 0:03:47.880 I heard a male voice. That's when I heard someone say, 0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:51.840 don't move. And you know, like I said, I was 0:03:52.240 --> 0:03:54.560 you know, it was high, I just small cracks. So 0:03:54.760 --> 0:03:57.080 I was very jittery and I was paranoid. And when 0:03:57.200 --> 0:03:59.160 when I heard the voice, don't move, you know, what 0:03:59.280 --> 0:04:02.040 did I do? I moved, I turned around real fast, 0:04:02.400 --> 0:04:06.080 and upon doing so, I was shot. Was shot two 0:04:06.480 --> 0:04:10.480 two one two direct hits and one that grazed me 0:04:11.440 --> 0:04:18.840 um where or where my abdomen um? And uh, you know, 0:04:19.400 --> 0:04:21.400 and then I just seen like blood squirting out of 0:04:21.440 --> 0:04:24.760 my stomach. I didn't, you know, I didn't know who 0:04:24.880 --> 0:04:27.440 that was that shot me. And I was kind of 0:04:27.440 --> 0:04:29.160 you know, I'm not gonna lie. I was afraid. You know, 0:04:29.240 --> 0:04:31.280 it was unarmed. I didn't have a gun that night. 0:04:32.680 --> 0:04:34.520 He said that name the other nights you might have 0:04:34.560 --> 0:04:36.160 had one with No, no, no, no, no, no, never 0:04:36.200 --> 0:04:38.120 carried a gun to my Okay, I mean I don't 0:04:38.120 --> 0:04:39.640 feel sympathy though, because he was trying to bring in 0:04:39.720 --> 0:04:42.160 somebody else, right, yeah, but your friend had a gun 0:04:42.200 --> 0:04:46.080 on him, right, So what happened? So you got shot? 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:47.960 You fall on the floor. No, I didn't fall on 0:04:48.000 --> 0:04:51.160 the floor. I Uh, my adrenaline kicked in and I 0:04:51.279 --> 0:04:53.600 was trying to leave, trying to get, you know, as 0:04:53.640 --> 0:04:57.120 far away from that situation as possible. And as I 0:04:57.200 --> 0:05:01.800 was walking away, I heard gunshots. Um. And I didn't 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:04.280 know at the time that my co defendant was armed, 0:05:04.760 --> 0:05:06.240 so I didn't know where all that was coming from. 0:05:07.120 --> 0:05:10.680 But obviously a gunfight ensued between the two of them. 0:05:11.680 --> 0:05:15.919 Um and uh, you know the all through the police 0:05:15.960 --> 0:05:19.400 officer was hit with you know, he was hitting the 0:05:19.480 --> 0:05:23.120 heart or the three fifty seven magnum and I'm coming 0:05:23.160 --> 0:05:27.120 back from now, yeah, and and he was he was killed. 0:05:28.360 --> 0:05:30.120 Were you were you mad at your cold, like, why 0:05:30.160 --> 0:05:33.440 did you have to get into a gunfight with him? Well, 0:05:33.600 --> 0:05:35.280 you know, not even that, not even that, I mean 0:05:35.520 --> 0:05:37.400 even further back then that you know, why did you 0:05:37.480 --> 0:05:39.680 even carry a gun and tell me that you had it, 0:05:40.120 --> 0:05:42.200 because you know, at the situation, you know, I mean, yeah, 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:44.120 I was still someone pursuing an acting care I was 0:05:44.160 --> 0:05:47.640 pursuing my addiction a little more, but I was still pursuing, 0:05:47.839 --> 0:05:49.560 you know, an acting career. But do you also feel 0:05:49.560 --> 0:05:52.400 like maybe he was defending you? Because if you're doing 0:05:52.600 --> 0:05:55.880 are you doing burglary? And somebody has a gun and 0:05:56.160 --> 0:05:58.200 you didn't say he announced himself as a police officer, 0:05:58.320 --> 0:06:00.360 I shoot you twice? I mean he could have been 0:06:00.400 --> 0:06:03.600 defending you. Well, yeah, that you know, that is one 0:06:03.640 --> 0:06:06.280 way to look at it. Um, because he also got 0:06:06.360 --> 0:06:09.720 shot nine times. So he got shot nine times. I 0:06:09.800 --> 0:06:13.039 got shot two to three times. He lived, Yeah he lived? 0:06:13.680 --> 0:06:17.120 Album Yeah how many bullet? So the cop he he 0:06:17.279 --> 0:06:20.280 changed clips. Um, I don't know. I didn't. I didn't. 0:06:20.360 --> 0:06:23.360 I didn't see what happened between them. I only heard 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:25.559 it right because I was already walking down the street. 0:06:26.160 --> 0:06:29.800 Had two guns though, unless he reload, only got six shots, no, no, no, 0:06:30.480 --> 0:06:36.600 three seven went the other way. So so yeah, you know, 0:06:36.720 --> 0:06:41.160 and uh, and then the gunfight ended between the two. 0:06:41.400 --> 0:06:44.320 I didn't see the aftermath or what happened. I was 0:06:44.360 --> 0:06:48.080 already on the corner of you know, Westchester Revenue in 0:06:48.160 --> 0:06:54.160 the Bronx and Arnal Place, and cops came on the scene. 0:06:54.160 --> 0:06:57.200 They didn't they weren't called to the scene. There was 0:06:57.240 --> 0:06:59.840 a bagel stored down the street and they were getting bagels, 0:07:00.080 --> 0:07:03.520 heard the gunshots and heard the gunshots. So came over there. 0:07:04.080 --> 0:07:05.800 And by the time they got there, I was on 0:07:05.880 --> 0:07:07.840 the floor. I was on the corner, and I was like, 0:07:08.240 --> 0:07:10.520 you know, fighting for my life. They didn't let you die, 0:07:10.520 --> 0:07:12.480 but they probably know you had it. Didn't know what happened. Well, 0:07:12.520 --> 0:07:14.280 they didn't know. They didn't know that there was an 0:07:14.280 --> 0:07:17.640 off duty police officer dead. Three houses, but the neighbors 0:07:17.720 --> 0:07:20.440 came outside and like calling them, like you know, and 0:07:20.560 --> 0:07:24.360 then uh, and then they called what they called buses, ambulances, right, 0:07:24.400 --> 0:07:26.080 they called the bus and they got they got three 0:07:26.120 --> 0:07:28.480 of them over there, and we went to the hospital 0:07:28.960 --> 0:07:31.720 and uh inside the ambulance. I remember trying to say 0:07:31.920 --> 0:07:34.560 I didn't do anything, but for some reason, my whole 0:07:34.680 --> 0:07:38.440 my voice you couldn't hear it. You did you did something. 0:07:38.480 --> 0:07:39.760 They were looking at you like, oh, you did something. 0:07:39.800 --> 0:07:44.240 You said, they're bleeding with gun shots? Yeah, right something? Why? Um? 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:47.440 And uh, you know, we bought to the hospital getting 0:07:47.440 --> 0:07:50.160 the surgery. You know, they you know, they took my 0:07:50.240 --> 0:07:52.320 spleen out, part of my calling I had a collapse 0:07:52.440 --> 0:07:56.320 lung and then uh then I found out after coming 0:07:56.360 --> 0:07:59.440 out of all of that, that that an off duty 0:07:59.480 --> 0:08:03.760 police officer, so it was killed and uh, I mean, 0:08:03.920 --> 0:08:06.320 you know whow I was really? So they pressed you 0:08:06.400 --> 0:08:11.720 immediately about being an eyewitness. I'm sure, um, I can accomplish, 0:08:11.760 --> 0:08:16.600 I would think too, well, even more than accomplish, because 0:08:16.640 --> 0:08:19.080 they've seen, you know, the broken window so that you know, 0:08:19.120 --> 0:08:21.520 this is there was a burglary in progress, and you know, 0:08:21.640 --> 0:08:24.360 somebody was killed as a result of that. So it's 0:08:24.520 --> 0:08:27.720 you know, an accomplished wouldn't have it wouldn't have been 0:08:28.040 --> 0:08:31.880 as bad as actually being charged with murder itself. So 0:08:32.160 --> 0:08:34.800 you know, we were, you know, charged with murder. You know, 0:08:35.080 --> 0:08:38.320 before you know it, you had Bronx homicide detectives came 0:08:38.400 --> 0:08:42.120 there and you know, we were interrogated at bedside, and uh, 0:08:42.600 --> 0:08:45.679 you know the interrogation was you know, while I was 0:08:46.000 --> 0:08:49.160 you know, in debated with tubes down my throat, you know, 0:08:49.520 --> 0:08:52.439 and in what you know, the doctor called, uh the 0:08:52.679 --> 0:08:56.160 expert called twilight sleep, and you know, because I was 0:08:56.559 --> 0:09:00.040 administered like five different medications at the same time. And 0:09:00.120 --> 0:09:02.640 this is the this is the method in which they 0:09:02.720 --> 0:09:07.480 obtained you know, uh, statements of what happened. No words, 0:09:07.640 --> 0:09:14.719 just affirmative, just nodding. No, excuse me, no lawyer, you 0:09:14.760 --> 0:09:16.640 didn't have a lawyer. No, because they came in and 0:09:16.720 --> 0:09:22.160 did that, you know before, Um my family was able 0:09:22.240 --> 0:09:26.400 to say that he has a lawyer. So some No, 0:09:26.800 --> 0:09:31.400 I mean yeah, I mean, like you said, you know, 0:09:31.559 --> 0:09:33.400 did you tell him what you saw? Yeah? What I 0:09:33.480 --> 0:09:35.680 saw was that I got shot and I was unarmed 0:09:35.760 --> 0:09:37.920 and I didn't you know, have a gun. But at 0:09:37.960 --> 0:09:40.480 the same time, I take, you know, full responsibility for 0:09:40.600 --> 0:09:43.640 how my actions and you know, my drug addiction put 0:09:43.720 --> 0:09:46.439 me there that night, and how it costs you know, 0:09:46.559 --> 0:09:49.160 a heroic New York City police officers life. Did you 0:09:49.200 --> 0:09:51.599 have to go understanding and tell you? Uh telling you. 0:09:53.400 --> 0:09:56.600 They offered me a deal to do so, and I didn't, 0:09:56.920 --> 0:10:00.360 and they offered me a deal of a three nine, 0:10:00.880 --> 0:10:03.880 but there was nothing to say, so I took it 0:10:03.960 --> 0:10:08.280 to trial. Um. They even offered me fifteen years before, 0:10:09.000 --> 0:10:12.079 a week before jury selection, to not have to go 0:10:12.160 --> 0:10:14.840 to trial. Um, well, you charged with a murder at 0:10:14.840 --> 0:10:16.440 the time. Yeah, it was charged with murder. You took 0:10:16.480 --> 0:10:18.559 that the trial of a cop. Yeah. I had a 0:10:18.679 --> 0:10:21.240 you know, a very good lawyer. His name was Joe Tacopina, 0:10:22.040 --> 0:10:24.640 you know, top notch attorney, and we were very uh 0:10:24.920 --> 0:10:27.920 confident based on the cap. We were very confident based 0:10:28.160 --> 0:10:30.920 on the facts in the case that you know, there 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:34.920 was there was no murder case. Um, I mean, you know, 0:10:35.320 --> 0:10:37.760 a burglary case and an attempted burglary case was a 0:10:37.800 --> 0:10:40.439 lot stronger. But we were you know, I took the 0:10:40.600 --> 0:10:44.240 stand in my own defense a trial because you know, 0:10:45.400 --> 0:10:47.480 I mean because you know this took place in the Bronx. 0:10:48.080 --> 0:10:50.439 You know, it was in the Bronx Tail, so you know, 0:10:50.559 --> 0:10:53.240 these juries are all from the Bronx. My lawyer thought 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:55.400 it would be the you know, best idea to do 0:10:55.520 --> 0:10:57.280 so because they're gonna, you know, the jurors are gonna 0:10:57.320 --> 0:10:58.719 want to they're gonna want to hear me. So that 0:10:59.040 --> 0:11:02.880 after the Bronx Tale. Yeah, this this was just after 0:11:02.960 --> 0:11:06.679 the Yes, this was yeah, this was two Broxtel. This 0:11:06.840 --> 0:11:10.520 was like like thirteen years after Bronx Tail. So now 0:11:11.000 --> 0:11:14.160 so now what's the up. So what's next for you? 0:11:14.320 --> 0:11:16.560 Because you know, there's there's a mother that lost his son. 0:11:16.600 --> 0:11:18.880 I'm sort there's some children that cops hate you. I 0:11:18.920 --> 0:11:22.560 would never drive. They were actually protesting because you are 0:11:22.640 --> 0:11:25.760 in a new movie and they didn't feel like anybody 0:11:25.760 --> 0:11:27.640 should be casting you in a movie. The movies in Brooklyn, 0:11:27.760 --> 0:11:31.599 right right, well, Brooklyn, and we also shot in Pennsylvania, 0:11:32.040 --> 0:11:35.280 right Um. And you know, an opportunity that I was 0:11:35.400 --> 0:11:38.360 very blessed to have been given and very thankful for. 0:11:38.600 --> 0:11:41.240 You know, my friend Willie the Mayo and Paul Boorgayze, 0:11:41.480 --> 0:11:44.400 they took a shot on me and you know gave me, 0:11:44.800 --> 0:11:47.839 you know, the opportunity which I'm very thankful for. Um. 0:11:49.920 --> 0:11:52.439 But you know, I even heard you guys say it, 0:11:52.520 --> 0:11:54.720 and you know, in reference to the kid who got 0:11:54.800 --> 0:11:58.640 the heart transplant, okay a little while ago, that everyone 0:11:58.720 --> 0:12:01.960 deserves a second chance. I agree with that, and uh, 0:12:02.080 --> 0:12:04.079 you know, I don't see why I would be any 0:12:04.120 --> 0:12:07.040 different in that situation. Um, But you can see why 0:12:07.040 --> 0:12:09.800 people will be upset though. Absolutely, there's no question about that. 0:12:10.080 --> 0:12:14.360 But what I'm saying is I served my time. I 0:12:14.440 --> 0:12:17.280 didn't take no shortcuts. I didn't you know, take the 0:12:17.400 --> 0:12:20.880 stand on anyone. I put myself there that night, took 0:12:20.920 --> 0:12:23.319 a huge gamble, went to trial, was confident in the 0:12:23.400 --> 0:12:27.520 facts in the case, in my you know, involvement in 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:34.719 the the the situation or lack thereof. And you know, 0:12:34.960 --> 0:12:38.360 while away, I you know, made the most of the time. 0:12:38.920 --> 0:12:41.280 I got sober. How how did you get off crack 0:12:41.360 --> 0:12:44.760 and herowin lot of time people go to jail, jail, Yeah, no, 0:12:44.920 --> 0:12:46.679 you go to jail and get worse sometimes. Yeah. Yeah, 0:12:46.720 --> 0:12:48.920 well I got high. I was getting high right, and 0:12:49.000 --> 0:12:52.120 I overdosed in my cell and still continue to use 0:12:52.200 --> 0:12:54.400 after that. But then, you know, I got eighty days 0:12:54.440 --> 0:12:56.760 in the box, and when I went there that a 0:12:56.840 --> 0:12:58.839 lot of you know, soul searching and thinking, no way 0:12:58.880 --> 0:13:00.280 for you to get anything in you can get it 0:13:00.360 --> 0:13:03.640 and then get it anywhere. Yeah, Um, Riker's Island, you 0:13:03.720 --> 0:13:06.679 know it's readily available. You know, did you beat it 0:13:06.720 --> 0:13:09.160 with help or like you? I can't believe you got 0:13:09.200 --> 0:13:14.040 off cracking heroin cold Turkey. It's on you. Well, you know, initially, 0:13:14.320 --> 0:13:16.480 you know, I had to. I had to because I 0:13:16.520 --> 0:13:18.480 didn't know the ins and outs of Riker's Island. I 0:13:18.559 --> 0:13:21.559 didn't know. But you know, as I became accustomed to 0:13:21.840 --> 0:13:25.360 doing time and being in that situation, I you know, 0:13:25.600 --> 0:13:29.480 was able to you know, find drugs and you know, 0:13:29.600 --> 0:13:32.319 continue to use. You know, especially in that situation is 0:13:32.440 --> 0:13:34.760 very painful. It's facing the rest of my life. You know. 0:13:34.920 --> 0:13:41.720 For one night, um the overdose, still continued to use. 0:13:41.800 --> 0:13:43.760 That was about a year after I've been at Riker's Island. 0:13:44.000 --> 0:13:47.000 Then when I went to the box, I just I 0:13:47.080 --> 0:13:51.120 got a visit from a couple of friends and that 0:13:51.320 --> 0:13:54.320 visit changed my life. What did they say to you? Well, 0:13:54.360 --> 0:13:57.240 they came in. I was already sitting there, handcuffed to 0:13:57.480 --> 0:14:01.520 the whatever it was, the wall, the metal thing. And 0:14:01.679 --> 0:14:03.640 now when they came in, you know, when I saw them, 0:14:03.920 --> 0:14:05.599 you know, I had a smile on my face. I 0:14:05.720 --> 0:14:07.840 was like happy to see them, and you know they didn't. 0:14:08.600 --> 0:14:11.200 They didn't weren't too happy to see me. And they 0:14:11.280 --> 0:14:14.400 said like, you know, what are you doing? You got 0:14:14.440 --> 0:14:16.679 all these people that are here for you and want 0:14:16.720 --> 0:14:19.080 to see you, you know, get through this, and you're 0:14:19.120 --> 0:14:21.440 doing this. You're still you're still getting high, Like what's 0:14:21.480 --> 0:14:24.320 wrong with you? And for some reason that day was 0:14:24.640 --> 0:14:28.280 it just stuck and it really affected me and I 0:14:28.400 --> 0:14:31.200 and I just made the decision that day that I 0:14:31.280 --> 0:14:35.240 got to change my life. And uh that was November eighteenth, 0:14:35.320 --> 0:14:38.920 two thousand and six, and I've never got high since then. Damn. 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:41.480 And now you know you said you first started using 0:14:41.560 --> 0:14:44.760 drugs while you were filming a Bronx Tale. Yeah, well 0:14:44.800 --> 0:14:47.600 the first time I ever smoked pot was was during 0:14:47.680 --> 0:14:49.600 the Bronx Tale. So how did you graduate all the 0:14:49.680 --> 0:14:53.240 way to cracking heroin from pot? It's you know, um 0:14:54.120 --> 0:14:57.520 with it, Hollywood. I mean, I mean a little bit 0:14:57.560 --> 0:14:59.320 of that. You know that definitely had a you know, 0:14:59.400 --> 0:15:02.920 an influence you know the past that I you know, 0:15:03.040 --> 0:15:07.160 eventually took. I mean, you know, being in that business, 0:15:07.160 --> 0:15:10.200 it's just lucrative. So you know, you got money, you 0:15:10.320 --> 0:15:13.120 got free time, and uh, you know it's a it's 0:15:13.320 --> 0:15:16.600 it's a recipe for disaster. And you know, like any addiction, 0:15:16.800 --> 0:15:19.800 it progresses gets worse, it doesn't get better. Now, now, 0:15:19.880 --> 0:15:22.600 what about the family of the slain officer? And I 0:15:22.680 --> 0:15:24.720 agree everybody deserves a second chance, but it's what you 0:15:24.800 --> 0:15:27.200 do with that second chance, because no, no matter what, 0:15:27.320 --> 0:15:29.400 even though you say you served your time, you know 0:15:29.480 --> 0:15:31.760 that that man is not coming back. And I could 0:15:31.800 --> 0:15:34.800 imagined him it was my dad or my son, and 0:15:34.960 --> 0:15:36.880 and the guy saying, well, I served my time, and 0:15:37.000 --> 0:15:39.000 you know, I'm sure the family like that doesn't mean 0:15:39.040 --> 0:15:41.840 it's I means nothing. My guy's dad, my dad is dead, 0:15:41.960 --> 0:15:43.600 or my son is dead. You know. So I think 0:15:43.600 --> 0:15:45.280 people would be more welcome to give you a second 0:15:45.360 --> 0:15:47.440 chance if there they're people could get the second chance. 0:15:47.600 --> 0:15:49.760 Like the person that you killed could get a second chance. 0:15:50.640 --> 0:15:56.120 He didn't have a gun, but every action is a reaction. Yeah, 0:15:56.160 --> 0:15:57.840 but he led them to the house. He was like, 0:15:57.920 --> 0:16:00.560 I know a house. I tell him on every time, 0:16:00.640 --> 0:16:02.960 but you might not. If you don't want nothing bad 0:16:03.000 --> 0:16:05.280 to happen, don't do nothing stupid, because anything can happened. 0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:06.240 I could be in a car with a bunch of 0:16:06.320 --> 0:16:08.320 knuckleheads and I do something and they do something, I'm 0:16:08.320 --> 0:16:11.040 gonna be charged. So what what are you? Are you 0:16:11.120 --> 0:16:13.200 doing anything for the family or like you're saying the 0:16:13.240 --> 0:16:15.600 second chance, like yeah, well you know that's that's what 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:19.720 them you know. I mean, I think people who are 0:16:19.800 --> 0:16:24.120 worthy of a second chance should definitely get one. And 0:16:24.240 --> 0:16:27.480 I feel that, you know, my actions have you know, 0:16:27.640 --> 0:16:30.840 spoken volumes of the person that I've become. I mean, 0:16:31.320 --> 0:16:34.520 when you when you're incarcerated, it's the doc the Department 0:16:34.560 --> 0:16:38.560 of Corrections to correct itself. And I truly believe that 0:16:38.600 --> 0:16:40.600 I used the time for what it was intended for. 0:16:41.280 --> 0:16:43.880 I went there, like I said, I got sober, which 0:16:43.960 --> 0:16:48.560 is not easy. And also after I fought my case 0:16:48.640 --> 0:16:51.960 and was ultimately acquitted to the murder and went upstate 0:16:53.120 --> 0:16:56.480 convicted of an attempt at Burglary, I had sentenced to 0:16:56.560 --> 0:16:59.240 ten years, so that would mean an additional five and 0:16:59.280 --> 0:17:02.480 a half right from the you know, from the Riker's 0:17:02.480 --> 0:17:06.280 Island point. So when I went up state, I still, 0:17:06.480 --> 0:17:08.480 you know, I didn't have my g ed, so I 0:17:08.560 --> 0:17:10.399 knew that was one of the first things I wanted 0:17:10.480 --> 0:17:14.960 to do and U and it was satisfying, but I 0:17:15.080 --> 0:17:18.040 just felt that I should use the time as wisely 0:17:18.080 --> 0:17:22.320 as possible. So with whatever you know, money I had left, 0:17:22.840 --> 0:17:25.439 I figured, you know, investing in my education because they 0:17:25.440 --> 0:17:28.680 don't offer they offer high school in uh you know, 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:34.399 state correctional New York state correctional facilities. But I enrolled 0:17:34.440 --> 0:17:37.200 in a male correspondence out of my own pocket accredited 0:17:37.280 --> 0:17:41.639 school in Georgia nor of course, Georgia Ashworth College, and 0:17:42.080 --> 0:17:45.760 I studied business management, and uh as you know, I was, 0:17:45.920 --> 0:17:49.080 I was able to earn an associate's degree. I earned 0:17:49.119 --> 0:17:51.680 sixty credits and it made a huge difference in my life, 0:17:51.720 --> 0:17:54.800 you know, do a huge difference in my life. And uh, 0:17:54.960 --> 0:17:57.720 you know, I came out and h haven't been in 0:17:57.800 --> 0:18:00.560 trouble one time since I've been home, done anything for 0:18:00.600 --> 0:18:04.719 the family though the family, But I've been to high schools, 0:18:05.200 --> 0:18:09.320 I've been to colleges, addiction centers. I'm actually going someplace tomorrow. 0:18:09.560 --> 0:18:13.920 Why haven't you reached out to the family. Absolutely, I 0:18:14.000 --> 0:18:16.359 just don't think it's it's in the appropriate time yet 0:18:16.400 --> 0:18:18.840 because they publicly, you know, I have denounced your role 0:18:19.000 --> 0:18:22.000 and very upset with your role. You know they have, 0:18:22.320 --> 0:18:24.040 of course, as they should be, you know, of course, 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:25.879 I you know, I would be the same way if 0:18:26.200 --> 0:18:28.680 if the situation was you know, reversed, if that was 0:18:28.760 --> 0:18:32.600 my brother. Absolutely, and you know, I definitely have empathy 0:18:32.960 --> 0:18:35.920 and can put myself well, try to at least think 0:18:36.400 --> 0:18:38.720 you know what they're thinking, and I understand exactly where 0:18:38.720 --> 0:18:41.520 they're coming from. But I can't control the way they 0:18:41.600 --> 0:18:44.600 think and feel. But what I can control is my 0:18:44.680 --> 0:18:47.920 own actions, and I've tried to make them as positive 0:18:47.960 --> 0:18:49.800 as possible. And what would you say? And then you, 0:18:50.040 --> 0:18:54.040 I mean, what can you sorry? You know, I mean, 0:18:54.080 --> 0:18:55.600 I don't think they want to hear you say, you know, 0:18:55.600 --> 0:18:57.040 I didn't pull the trigger. They don't want to know 0:18:57.119 --> 0:18:59.680 what right. They just want to at least, I mean, 0:19:00.240 --> 0:19:01.840 at least they can look and see, you know, if 0:19:01.880 --> 0:19:03.840 they're watching TV, like you know, if I was someplace, 0:19:04.160 --> 0:19:08.120 you know, helping kids, you know, to deter them from 0:19:08.160 --> 0:19:10.879 making mistakes that I made, and used the situation in 0:19:10.920 --> 0:19:14.280 a positive way, you know. I mean, I've really, you know, 0:19:14.400 --> 0:19:16.880 worked my butt off since I got home to show 0:19:16.960 --> 0:19:19.240 people I'm a different person. If you didn't go to jail, 0:19:19.280 --> 0:19:21.520 you might have ended up dead yourself, though, because I 0:19:22.000 --> 0:19:24.159 remember reading about you getting pulled over you had a 0:19:24.200 --> 0:19:27.160 heroin in the car, and that was a few months 0:19:27.280 --> 0:19:30.200 was like a few months before that, you know, I 0:19:30.320 --> 0:19:32.080 was on a you know, I was on a you know, 0:19:32.160 --> 0:19:36.320 a downward spiral, and ultimately that you know, that night happened. 0:19:37.600 --> 0:19:41.440 And you're right, if I hadn't got you know, locked 0:19:41.480 --> 0:19:44.400 up that night and arrested, I probably would be dead 0:19:44.480 --> 0:19:46.240 right now. I don't know too many people that came 0:19:46.280 --> 0:19:48.600 back from a heroin, Like what's that highlight? Well, I 0:19:48.720 --> 0:19:51.520 never I never used it intravenously. I never shot it 0:19:51.600 --> 0:19:56.800 in my face. Sniffets sniffet um. The high, you know, 0:19:56.960 --> 0:20:00.600 the high was, you know, I mean it's it's uh it. 0:20:00.920 --> 0:20:04.359 You know, it's very deceiving and very you know, seductive. 0:20:05.080 --> 0:20:08.119 But there's a huge price to pay for it, because 0:20:08.240 --> 0:20:11.040 like anything else, it's always the best in the beginning. 0:20:11.640 --> 0:20:14.600 And what that does is it imprints a memory in 0:20:14.680 --> 0:20:18.560 your brain, a memory of euphoria that you never forget, 0:20:19.280 --> 0:20:22.359 and every time you do it, you feel less and 0:20:22.440 --> 0:20:26.800 less of that, and you chase it. And then you know, 0:20:27.000 --> 0:20:30.560 with heroin, which is an opiate, is a physically addicting 0:20:30.640 --> 0:20:35.120 drug because your body itself produces opiates. So when you're 0:20:35.280 --> 0:20:39.080 giving your body opiates from an outside source, your body says, 0:20:39.359 --> 0:20:41.800 we don't have to make them anymore. You're describing crack 0:20:41.880 --> 0:20:45.960 first when you said to hide that, m no, talking 0:20:45.960 --> 0:20:50.520 about heroin. Crack is not physically addicting, that's all in 0:20:50.600 --> 0:20:53.040 the mind. You know, you could smoke crack for ten 0:20:53.119 --> 0:20:55.359 days straight, take a nap, and you know it's like 0:20:55.480 --> 0:20:57.879 nothing ever happened. But heroin is not like that. You 0:20:57.960 --> 0:21:01.040 do a ten days straightoke, you to have, your body's 0:21:01.080 --> 0:21:03.040 gonna want it and if you try to withdraw yourself. 0:21:03.080 --> 0:21:05.520 I know I've seen people there like shaking and slating 0:21:05.560 --> 0:21:08.879 and throwing. A very horrible feeling and something that no 0:21:08.960 --> 0:21:12.080 one should ever have to go through, because I myself 0:21:12.200 --> 0:21:15.000