1 00:00:14,916 --> 00:00:34,156 Speaker 1: Pushkin. I remember that night like it was yesterday. I 2 00:00:34,156 --> 00:00:38,156 Speaker 1: could still hear the thunderous beat in my head, and 3 00:00:38,196 --> 00:00:41,716 Speaker 1: I remember being so startled out of my sleep because 4 00:00:41,796 --> 00:00:45,476 Speaker 1: I've never experienced such a bamming at my door, so 5 00:00:46,276 --> 00:00:50,716 Speaker 1: it shocked me, and I knew that something bad had happened. 6 00:00:51,676 --> 00:00:55,996 Speaker 1: That's Chaparral Wells describing the moment when Chicago police officers 7 00:00:56,356 --> 00:00:58,236 Speaker 1: showed up on her doorstep in the middle of the 8 00:00:58,356 --> 00:01:01,996 Speaker 1: night her oldest child, her twenty two year old son, 9 00:01:02,156 --> 00:01:07,476 Speaker 1: Courtney Copeland, had been fatally shot. Chaparl needed answers about 10 00:01:07,516 --> 00:01:10,796 Speaker 1: what had happened in Courtney's final moments, but it soon 11 00:01:10,836 --> 00:01:13,756 Speaker 1: became clear she wasn't going to get them unless she 12 00:01:13,836 --> 00:01:18,076 Speaker 1: took matters into her own hands. It wasn't by choice 13 00:01:18,836 --> 00:01:23,076 Speaker 1: that I took this journey in investigating my son's murder. 14 00:01:24,036 --> 00:01:29,316 Speaker 1: I had no other option. Chaparral did not know at 15 00:01:29,316 --> 00:01:32,236 Speaker 1: the time that she spent the next five years trying 16 00:01:32,236 --> 00:01:36,716 Speaker 1: to figure out what exactly had happened to Courtney. On 17 00:01:36,756 --> 00:01:40,476 Speaker 1: today's episode, a mother channels her grief into justice for 18 00:01:40,556 --> 00:01:44,716 Speaker 1: her son. I'm Maya Shunker, and this is a slight 19 00:01:44,796 --> 00:01:47,636 Speaker 1: change of plans. A show about who we are and 20 00:01:47,676 --> 00:01:51,196 Speaker 1: who we become in the face of a big change. 21 00:01:57,636 --> 00:02:00,676 Speaker 1: Chaparral was grieving the loss of her son, Courtney, but 22 00:02:00,756 --> 00:02:03,556 Speaker 1: her grieving process was complicated by the fact there were 23 00:02:03,676 --> 00:02:07,996 Speaker 1: so many unanswered questions surrounding his death. I wanted to 24 00:02:08,036 --> 00:02:11,476 Speaker 1: hear about her cycle logical journey through all this, how 25 00:02:11,476 --> 00:02:16,356 Speaker 1: she balanced her dual identities as mom an investigator, and importantly, 26 00:02:16,796 --> 00:02:19,476 Speaker 1: I wanted to know how all of her advocacy may 27 00:02:19,516 --> 00:02:23,596 Speaker 1: have changed her relationship with Courtney's death. I started off 28 00:02:23,636 --> 00:02:27,236 Speaker 1: our conversation by asking Chaparral about the kind of person 29 00:02:27,396 --> 00:02:32,316 Speaker 1: Courtney was. He was such a loving person. I shall 30 00:02:32,396 --> 00:02:35,916 Speaker 1: always come home, like from dropping off the kids at school, 31 00:02:36,036 --> 00:02:38,516 Speaker 1: and he'll be here, and he'll come up and he'll 32 00:02:38,556 --> 00:02:41,356 Speaker 1: be all in my bed. And I remember even in 33 00:02:41,436 --> 00:02:44,436 Speaker 1: his teen and when he was even grown, he'd be like, 34 00:02:44,756 --> 00:02:47,156 Speaker 1: can you just rub on my ears? You know? He 35 00:02:47,276 --> 00:02:53,156 Speaker 1: was just like so affectionate. And I would say, one 36 00:02:53,156 --> 00:02:56,316 Speaker 1: of the best memories I have for Courtney is him 37 00:02:56,316 --> 00:03:00,876 Speaker 1: being the glue. He was someone who if there was 38 00:03:00,916 --> 00:03:03,276 Speaker 1: a conflict or he would be the first person to 39 00:03:03,356 --> 00:03:06,796 Speaker 1: try to resolve it. Hey, you guys, you know we're family. 40 00:03:07,396 --> 00:03:12,236 Speaker 1: Let's pull it together. It doesn't matter what happened. Let's 41 00:03:12,276 --> 00:03:16,956 Speaker 1: just resolve this and move on. I remember Courtney shortly 42 00:03:16,996 --> 00:03:20,636 Speaker 1: after my grandmother passed away, and Courtney and my grandmother 43 00:03:20,676 --> 00:03:25,356 Speaker 1: were very close, and he said, Mom, grandma wanted me 44 00:03:25,396 --> 00:03:29,476 Speaker 1: to keep the family together. And Courtney may have been 45 00:03:30,236 --> 00:03:34,836 Speaker 1: nineteen twenty at the time that she passed. And I 46 00:03:35,076 --> 00:03:38,916 Speaker 1: was like, you know, that's a huge responsibility, Courtney, I said, 47 00:03:39,076 --> 00:03:43,756 Speaker 1: but she saw something within you that felt that you 48 00:03:43,796 --> 00:03:46,956 Speaker 1: could do it. Because Courtney was the type of person, 49 00:03:47,156 --> 00:03:50,436 Speaker 1: he got along with everyone, and so he would basically 50 00:03:50,556 --> 00:03:54,156 Speaker 1: try to host family dinners lesson like this person, because 51 00:03:54,196 --> 00:03:57,556 Speaker 1: these are the things that my grandmother did, especially around 52 00:03:57,596 --> 00:04:02,956 Speaker 1: holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. She made sure everyone got together. 53 00:04:03,956 --> 00:04:06,796 Speaker 1: In addition to being a family oriented guy, Courtney was 54 00:04:06,836 --> 00:04:10,316 Speaker 1: also making great strides in his professional life. He was 55 00:04:10,356 --> 00:04:12,676 Speaker 1: a sales rap and he earned a special bonus that 56 00:04:12,756 --> 00:04:15,876 Speaker 1: allowed him to get at Burgundy BMW and so I 57 00:04:15,956 --> 00:04:19,836 Speaker 1: remember him pulling up in our driveway, probably around twelve 58 00:04:19,996 --> 00:04:22,876 Speaker 1: or one in the morning. He was like, Mom, I 59 00:04:22,996 --> 00:04:25,676 Speaker 1: did it. I did it. I got the car. I 60 00:04:25,756 --> 00:04:27,836 Speaker 1: got the car. And I remember him give me the 61 00:04:27,876 --> 00:04:30,356 Speaker 1: biggest hug and he was like, you gotta come down 62 00:04:30,396 --> 00:04:33,636 Speaker 1: there and see it. And the music was blasting and 63 00:04:33,716 --> 00:04:36,276 Speaker 1: he was just like so excited. His friends were out. 64 00:04:36,316 --> 00:04:39,076 Speaker 1: I mean it's like literally twelve thirty one o'clock in 65 00:04:39,116 --> 00:04:41,676 Speaker 1: the morning and he had called out his friends over 66 00:04:42,356 --> 00:04:44,956 Speaker 1: you can't see anything, and everybody was just it was 67 00:04:44,996 --> 00:04:48,076 Speaker 1: like a mini party right in the driveway. And this 68 00:04:48,116 --> 00:04:51,996 Speaker 1: car wasn't just any car to Courtney. They had a relationship. 69 00:04:52,316 --> 00:04:55,756 Speaker 1: He would talk to the car every morning like it 70 00:04:55,876 --> 00:05:00,396 Speaker 1: was his girlfriend, Good morning, baby, how are you today? 71 00:05:00,556 --> 00:05:02,956 Speaker 1: I mean, it was just that was his life. The 72 00:05:03,076 --> 00:05:06,116 Speaker 1: car was his life for sure. Wow. So yeah, I 73 00:05:06,116 --> 00:05:09,436 Speaker 1: guess it symbolized something so meaningful to him about what 74 00:05:09,516 --> 00:05:11,596 Speaker 1: he had accomplished in life and where he was heading. 75 00:05:11,796 --> 00:05:16,356 Speaker 1: And it did. His goals were always to make sure 76 00:05:16,436 --> 00:05:18,636 Speaker 1: that we didn't have to work or his sisters didn't 77 00:05:18,636 --> 00:05:22,996 Speaker 1: have to do anything. So once he received that BMW bonus, 78 00:05:23,076 --> 00:05:26,916 Speaker 1: he actually pushed harder and he was working harder, talking 79 00:05:26,956 --> 00:05:30,316 Speaker 1: to more people and trying to get as much as 80 00:05:30,356 --> 00:05:35,076 Speaker 1: he could in the way of excelling his business as possible. 81 00:05:36,996 --> 00:05:40,516 Speaker 1: So one night, you hear a knock on the door 82 00:05:40,596 --> 00:05:43,996 Speaker 1: at two in the morning, and it's the police. Can 83 00:05:44,036 --> 00:05:47,236 Speaker 1: you take me back to that moment. Yes, I remember 84 00:05:47,396 --> 00:05:51,236 Speaker 1: that night like it was yesterday. I could still hear 85 00:05:52,076 --> 00:05:55,796 Speaker 1: the thunderous beat in my head. You know, this is 86 00:05:55,796 --> 00:05:59,276 Speaker 1: something that you never forget, these sounds, these moments where 87 00:05:59,276 --> 00:06:02,436 Speaker 1: you were. And I remember being so startled out of 88 00:06:02,476 --> 00:06:06,716 Speaker 1: my sleep because I've never experienced such a bamming at 89 00:06:06,756 --> 00:06:11,356 Speaker 1: my door. So that bamming it shocked me and I 90 00:06:11,476 --> 00:06:16,356 Speaker 1: knew that something bad had happened. And so when I 91 00:06:16,396 --> 00:06:20,036 Speaker 1: got to the door, the officer was like, do you 92 00:06:20,076 --> 00:06:23,516 Speaker 1: know a Courtney Copeland And I said yes, I'm his mother, 93 00:06:24,156 --> 00:06:27,356 Speaker 1: and then he said, well, we come to notify you 94 00:06:27,796 --> 00:06:31,596 Speaker 1: that you need to call Illinois massign A Hospital. And 95 00:06:31,996 --> 00:06:34,116 Speaker 1: at that moment, the first thing that goes through my 96 00:06:34,156 --> 00:06:36,116 Speaker 1: mind is, oh, my god, my son has been in 97 00:06:36,156 --> 00:06:40,796 Speaker 1: a terrible accident. Something that's happened. And so I'm like, 98 00:06:40,996 --> 00:06:45,556 Speaker 1: for a police officer to come to your home, it 99 00:06:45,596 --> 00:06:50,116 Speaker 1: has to be extremely serious. So I remember my husband 100 00:06:50,516 --> 00:06:53,076 Speaker 1: he had jumped out of bed as well. And by 101 00:06:53,116 --> 00:06:56,076 Speaker 1: this time I'm focusing on Okay, I have to go 102 00:06:56,156 --> 00:06:58,636 Speaker 1: change my clothes and get ready because they're telling us 103 00:06:58,636 --> 00:07:00,996 Speaker 1: that we have to go to this hospital and so 104 00:07:01,236 --> 00:07:03,916 Speaker 1: my husband is talking to them and I was like, well, 105 00:07:03,996 --> 00:07:07,116 Speaker 1: Brent called the hospital, let's see what's happening. And I'm 106 00:07:07,116 --> 00:07:10,516 Speaker 1: putting all my clothes and they said, we can't tell 107 00:07:10,596 --> 00:07:14,316 Speaker 1: you over the phone. You need to come in. Once 108 00:07:14,436 --> 00:07:18,916 Speaker 1: that happened, once he uttered those words, I remember being 109 00:07:18,956 --> 00:07:23,636 Speaker 1: in my bedroom and just falling to the floor because 110 00:07:24,276 --> 00:07:29,356 Speaker 1: I just felt in my gut that them telling you 111 00:07:29,436 --> 00:07:32,036 Speaker 1: that they can't tell you on the phone, this must 112 00:07:32,076 --> 00:07:36,196 Speaker 1: be bad. And then once I arrived to the hospital, 113 00:07:38,116 --> 00:07:39,836 Speaker 1: I told him who I was. I said, I'm here 114 00:07:39,836 --> 00:07:43,596 Speaker 1: to see Courtney Copeland. And then they said, well, we 115 00:07:43,676 --> 00:07:46,436 Speaker 1: need to take you to the family room. And I remember, 116 00:07:47,196 --> 00:07:51,036 Speaker 1: just like it just happened just now. When they said that, 117 00:07:51,796 --> 00:07:54,356 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm not going. I'm not going into 118 00:07:54,396 --> 00:07:57,476 Speaker 1: the family room because in that moment, you know that 119 00:07:57,516 --> 00:08:01,516 Speaker 1: your child is gone. And so I said at that point, 120 00:08:01,596 --> 00:08:04,636 Speaker 1: I started to demand to see Courtney, and they were like, 121 00:08:04,676 --> 00:08:06,756 Speaker 1: we can't allow you to see him, and I'm like, 122 00:08:06,956 --> 00:08:14,716 Speaker 1: you know, it was an emotional, emotional moment because everyone 123 00:08:14,836 --> 00:08:17,956 Speaker 1: knew at that moment that Courtney was gone. But you know, 124 00:08:18,396 --> 00:08:21,356 Speaker 1: as a mom, you want to see that confirmation. You 125 00:08:21,476 --> 00:08:25,636 Speaker 1: want to you want to see your child, and they 126 00:08:25,636 --> 00:08:30,476 Speaker 1: were at first denying us the right to see Courtney, 127 00:08:30,676 --> 00:08:34,556 Speaker 1: and they were denying us the right to even really 128 00:08:34,596 --> 00:08:38,396 Speaker 1: know a lot of information about him. What was the 129 00:08:38,396 --> 00:08:43,036 Speaker 1: reason they wouldn't let you see Courtney, Well, because it 130 00:08:43,196 --> 00:08:47,396 Speaker 1: was a murder investigation. And so they said that the 131 00:08:47,516 --> 00:08:51,356 Speaker 1: police had already determined that this was a murder and 132 00:08:51,476 --> 00:08:54,316 Speaker 1: that no one is to be able to see him. 133 00:08:54,716 --> 00:08:57,476 Speaker 1: And so they said their protocol is to send them 134 00:08:57,516 --> 00:09:02,796 Speaker 1: directly to the morgue. And so about forty five minutes 135 00:09:02,796 --> 00:09:06,116 Speaker 1: to an hour, the doctor finally comes and tells us 136 00:09:05,836 --> 00:09:09,996 Speaker 1: what happened. And so we're in the family room and 137 00:09:10,276 --> 00:09:12,916 Speaker 1: at this time it's about thirty family members that are 138 00:09:12,956 --> 00:09:16,316 Speaker 1: with us, and his friends, his closest friends, and they 139 00:09:16,316 --> 00:09:18,716 Speaker 1: were like, you know, the doctor came and said, your 140 00:09:18,716 --> 00:09:22,196 Speaker 1: son was brought in by ambulance and he was shot, 141 00:09:22,756 --> 00:09:25,436 Speaker 1: and all of us just like shot by who? And 142 00:09:25,516 --> 00:09:29,276 Speaker 1: we all fell to the ground because we couldn't believe. 143 00:09:29,316 --> 00:09:33,276 Speaker 1: I mean, because for Courtney to be shot, it was 144 00:09:33,316 --> 00:09:37,916 Speaker 1: just something that was unfathomable about him, of all people 145 00:09:37,996 --> 00:09:41,236 Speaker 1: being shot. He was not you know, violent, he you know, 146 00:09:41,276 --> 00:09:45,196 Speaker 1: if he saw confrontation Courtney would leave, so for them 147 00:09:45,236 --> 00:09:48,556 Speaker 1: to tell us that he had been shot, we immediately said, 148 00:09:48,716 --> 00:09:53,116 Speaker 1: by who who did this to him? After nearly two 149 00:09:53,196 --> 00:09:57,116 Speaker 1: hours of pleading with hospital doctors and staff, Chapel was 150 00:09:57,236 --> 00:10:00,516 Speaker 1: finally allowed to see her son. She and her family 151 00:10:00,556 --> 00:10:03,036 Speaker 1: made their way to the trauma ward, where Courtney was 152 00:10:03,116 --> 00:10:06,996 Speaker 1: lying on a hospital bed. I would probably say that 153 00:10:07,156 --> 00:10:10,916 Speaker 1: was probably the hardest moment of my life to be 154 00:10:11,036 --> 00:10:17,316 Speaker 1: able to see him in that state. You know, I 155 00:10:17,436 --> 00:10:23,316 Speaker 1: remember so vividly when we first walked in the room, 156 00:10:24,156 --> 00:10:26,676 Speaker 1: and you know, all of my family was there, and 157 00:10:28,556 --> 00:10:32,716 Speaker 1: I can remember myself just telling everybody, I need to 158 00:10:32,756 --> 00:10:37,116 Speaker 1: be along with my baby. I need a moment. I 159 00:10:37,236 --> 00:10:40,636 Speaker 1: need him to know that you know, Mommy was sorry 160 00:10:40,676 --> 00:10:44,836 Speaker 1: that she wasn't there. You know. I just imagine my 161 00:10:44,876 --> 00:10:49,596 Speaker 1: son going through all this trauma by himself and not 162 00:10:49,796 --> 00:10:52,836 Speaker 1: having his mom there, and that was hard for me. 163 00:10:54,316 --> 00:10:59,436 Speaker 1: And I remember touching him and kissing him and his 164 00:11:00,036 --> 00:11:04,636 Speaker 1: body was still warm, and you know, you know those 165 00:11:04,716 --> 00:11:09,676 Speaker 1: moments you just think about all of the time that 166 00:11:09,796 --> 00:11:14,396 Speaker 1: you had and they're rushing back every moment from birth 167 00:11:14,476 --> 00:11:18,836 Speaker 1: and him into this moment where you're looking at him 168 00:11:18,956 --> 00:11:22,596 Speaker 1: for his final days, his final seconds, his final hours, 169 00:11:23,876 --> 00:11:27,916 Speaker 1: and there's that very final moment when you're getting ready 170 00:11:27,916 --> 00:11:34,836 Speaker 1: to say goodbye. There's a moment at the hospital that 171 00:11:34,956 --> 00:11:40,516 Speaker 1: night where when you feel more than just grief. Yes. Yes. 172 00:11:40,996 --> 00:11:46,916 Speaker 1: After we view Courtney, the two detectives that allow us 173 00:11:46,916 --> 00:11:52,276 Speaker 1: to see him, they begin to question us about Courtney 174 00:11:52,396 --> 00:11:55,876 Speaker 1: in the vehicle. The first question they asked was who 175 00:11:55,956 --> 00:11:59,276 Speaker 1: was the owner of the BMW, And I said, Courtney. 176 00:11:59,676 --> 00:12:03,036 Speaker 1: Courtney is owner of the BMW. And I said, but 177 00:12:03,116 --> 00:12:06,196 Speaker 1: he did have a co signer. So on my mind, 178 00:12:08,396 --> 00:12:12,676 Speaker 1: I was thinking maybe this was a traffic stop gone wrong, 179 00:12:12,916 --> 00:12:17,636 Speaker 1: because why would you be questioning you know, I'm thinking detectives. 180 00:12:17,796 --> 00:12:19,596 Speaker 1: If they're telling me that my son was shot and 181 00:12:19,716 --> 00:12:23,276 Speaker 1: killed by an unknown assailant, then the first thing should 182 00:12:23,276 --> 00:12:26,436 Speaker 1: have been you know, where was he going, who was 183 00:12:26,436 --> 00:12:30,036 Speaker 1: he with? What information do you know? But to question 184 00:12:30,156 --> 00:12:36,436 Speaker 1: the vehicle it made me suspicious of their intent. Maybe 185 00:12:36,436 --> 00:12:40,396 Speaker 1: they thought that Coordiney had stolen the vehicle. It was 186 00:12:40,436 --> 00:12:43,036 Speaker 1: like to me they were interrogating Coordiney as opposed to 187 00:12:43,036 --> 00:12:46,476 Speaker 1: trying to find out who could have done this to him. 188 00:12:48,236 --> 00:12:50,876 Speaker 1: So at this point, Chaperl, you decide to take matters 189 00:12:50,876 --> 00:12:53,116 Speaker 1: into your own hands, and you go in a full 190 00:12:53,556 --> 00:12:57,396 Speaker 1: investigator mode. I'm trying to put myself in your shoes, 191 00:12:57,556 --> 00:13:02,036 Speaker 1: and it's hard to imagine where I'd even begin. Well, 192 00:13:02,836 --> 00:13:07,756 Speaker 1: you know, it wasn't by choice that I took this 193 00:13:07,956 --> 00:13:12,676 Speaker 1: journey and investigating my son's murder. I had no other option. 194 00:13:13,796 --> 00:13:19,236 Speaker 1: I felt that Courtney deserved to have closure. I mean 195 00:13:19,476 --> 00:13:21,996 Speaker 1: it was like day in and day out from the 196 00:13:22,076 --> 00:13:25,596 Speaker 1: moment I found out that Courtney had been killed. I 197 00:13:25,636 --> 00:13:29,436 Speaker 1: needed to know why. I still need to know why, 198 00:13:29,876 --> 00:13:32,956 Speaker 1: and I needed to know how, how did these things occur, 199 00:13:33,196 --> 00:13:36,836 Speaker 1: what happened, and so you know, within my being, it 200 00:13:36,956 --> 00:13:41,036 Speaker 1: was just constantly turning all of these unknowns and I 201 00:13:41,076 --> 00:13:45,796 Speaker 1: had to try to uncover whatever I could. I mean literally, 202 00:13:45,916 --> 00:13:51,716 Speaker 1: we were working. We were working on Courtney's case twenty 203 00:13:51,716 --> 00:13:55,156 Speaker 1: four to seven. I don't think I slept the first 204 00:13:55,156 --> 00:13:59,516 Speaker 1: week because I would maybe sleep like two to three 205 00:13:59,596 --> 00:14:04,996 Speaker 1: hours because I was constantly going over the timeline. I 206 00:14:05,076 --> 00:14:09,476 Speaker 1: was recording what my thoughts were, any tips, I was 207 00:14:09,516 --> 00:14:12,396 Speaker 1: putting it in there. We were going out in the neighborhood, 208 00:14:12,516 --> 00:14:16,316 Speaker 1: we were walking looking for clues. We were talking to 209 00:14:16,476 --> 00:14:19,756 Speaker 1: his friends that he would have encountered that night. So 210 00:14:19,796 --> 00:14:23,476 Speaker 1: we were literally we had all boots on the streets 211 00:14:23,516 --> 00:14:29,036 Speaker 1: trying to figure out what happened. You eventually tracked down 212 00:14:29,116 --> 00:14:33,956 Speaker 1: Courtney's hospital records. What did the record say? You know, 213 00:14:34,076 --> 00:14:38,636 Speaker 1: at the time that I actually received the medical records, 214 00:14:38,956 --> 00:14:44,356 Speaker 1: I had already had suspicions that something was wrong. So 215 00:14:44,516 --> 00:14:48,476 Speaker 1: the first page of the medical documents was the Chicago 216 00:14:48,516 --> 00:14:53,396 Speaker 1: Fire Department runs sheet, and that particular run sheet, the 217 00:14:53,436 --> 00:14:59,716 Speaker 1: first paragraph of it it states that my son was violent, agitated, combative, 218 00:15:00,316 --> 00:15:04,876 Speaker 1: and a threat to others. And so I knew in 219 00:15:04,996 --> 00:15:08,476 Speaker 1: my heart, because I know my son, that this information 220 00:15:08,836 --> 00:15:12,596 Speaker 1: had to be wrong. As I continue to read, it 221 00:15:12,716 --> 00:15:17,436 Speaker 1: says and the patient was handcuffed. When I saw that 222 00:15:17,516 --> 00:15:21,436 Speaker 1: my son was handcuffed, I lost it. I mean I 223 00:15:21,476 --> 00:15:25,996 Speaker 1: was just like, why would you handcuffed somebody who was 224 00:15:26,076 --> 00:15:29,316 Speaker 1: dying and he went to you for help? And so 225 00:15:29,476 --> 00:15:31,916 Speaker 1: none of this made any sense to me, and it 226 00:15:32,036 --> 00:15:35,676 Speaker 1: only hyped my suspicion. You know, you felt a little 227 00:15:35,716 --> 00:15:39,356 Speaker 1: comfort in knowing that at least he was well cared 228 00:15:39,356 --> 00:15:42,276 Speaker 1: for on the scene, but when you find out that 229 00:15:42,276 --> 00:15:48,276 Speaker 1: that was not true, it just crushed me. Throughout your investigation, 230 00:15:48,876 --> 00:15:51,836 Speaker 1: you and members of the community are sharing leads with 231 00:15:51,876 --> 00:15:55,116 Speaker 1: the police, but they seemed to be falling on deaf ears. 232 00:15:55,956 --> 00:15:59,596 Speaker 1: In fact, the police department goes totally silent on you 233 00:15:59,676 --> 00:16:03,036 Speaker 1: for an entire year. What tactics do you use to 234 00:16:03,036 --> 00:16:07,116 Speaker 1: try to keep their attention on Courtney's case. Well, we 235 00:16:07,236 --> 00:16:11,316 Speaker 1: actually did rallies outside of the twenty fifth district. We 236 00:16:11,476 --> 00:16:16,716 Speaker 1: marched on the mirror office, and we also canvased the neighborhoods. 237 00:16:17,356 --> 00:16:22,196 Speaker 1: We talked to neighbors who hit video cameras. We requested 238 00:16:22,276 --> 00:16:25,556 Speaker 1: for your information Freedom of Information Act so that that 239 00:16:25,596 --> 00:16:28,556 Speaker 1: way we can get all the tapes, the audio, the visual, 240 00:16:28,716 --> 00:16:35,156 Speaker 1: the pod cameras, everything that surrounded this case. Chaparral was 241 00:16:35,196 --> 00:16:38,476 Speaker 1: intent on getting access to the footage surrounding Courtney's death 242 00:16:38,836 --> 00:16:41,796 Speaker 1: and began searching the web for potential partners who could 243 00:16:41,836 --> 00:16:45,116 Speaker 1: help her. One night, around two thirty in the morning, 244 00:16:45,356 --> 00:16:49,196 Speaker 1: she came across an article about Lakwan McDonald, the seventeen 245 00:16:49,236 --> 00:16:52,076 Speaker 1: year old who was fatally shot by a Chicago police 246 00:16:52,076 --> 00:16:56,556 Speaker 1: officer in twenty fourteen. The article cited a nonprofit called 247 00:16:56,556 --> 00:17:00,316 Speaker 1: The Invisible Institute. The institute had played a key role 248 00:17:00,396 --> 00:17:04,956 Speaker 1: in getting footage release from LaQuan McDonald's case. And so 249 00:17:05,276 --> 00:17:09,076 Speaker 1: I said, well, at this point, I have nothing to lose. 250 00:17:09,676 --> 00:17:11,996 Speaker 1: I'm going to write to the Invisible Institute to see 251 00:17:11,996 --> 00:17:14,876 Speaker 1: if I can get some help with trying to get 252 00:17:14,876 --> 00:17:18,156 Speaker 1: the videotapes and the audio tapes that we know that 253 00:17:18,196 --> 00:17:21,596 Speaker 1: the police have surrounding Courtney's case, because at that point, 254 00:17:21,636 --> 00:17:24,356 Speaker 1: I was only looking for someone to listen to me 255 00:17:24,716 --> 00:17:27,516 Speaker 1: and to hear me, because I felt like everything I 256 00:17:27,596 --> 00:17:31,236 Speaker 1: was saying as a mom, it was being misconstrued as 257 00:17:31,356 --> 00:17:34,356 Speaker 1: I'm just a grieving mom and none of this have 258 00:17:34,596 --> 00:17:38,836 Speaker 1: any merit. But what I was showing to the world, 259 00:17:38,956 --> 00:17:41,436 Speaker 1: what I wanted the world to understand, that there are 260 00:17:41,436 --> 00:17:45,556 Speaker 1: a lot of inconsistencies in this case. Yeah, it's so 261 00:17:45,676 --> 00:17:49,796 Speaker 1: interesting how when you occupy the role of mom, there's 262 00:17:49,836 --> 00:17:54,596 Speaker 1: a presumption that emotions bias, all that stuff is creeping in, 263 00:17:54,636 --> 00:17:57,796 Speaker 1: when in actuality, you were holding yourself to a very 264 00:17:57,916 --> 00:18:01,876 Speaker 1: rigorous process and you were just trying to find the facts. Yes, 265 00:18:02,436 --> 00:18:06,436 Speaker 1: very early on, my friend Santita, she told me, you 266 00:18:06,476 --> 00:18:08,476 Speaker 1: don't want to come to a conclusion. You want to 267 00:18:08,556 --> 00:18:11,996 Speaker 1: arrive the conclusion. You want to let the evidence lead 268 00:18:12,076 --> 00:18:16,196 Speaker 1: you to what happened to your son. And so that 269 00:18:16,276 --> 00:18:21,596 Speaker 1: was one of the crucial advices that I received and 270 00:18:21,756 --> 00:18:25,516 Speaker 1: that I tried to adapt during the whole process, that 271 00:18:25,636 --> 00:18:30,316 Speaker 1: I wanted to naturally allow the evidence to tell us 272 00:18:30,316 --> 00:18:36,156 Speaker 1: what happened to Courtney. I'm wondering whether strategies you use 273 00:18:36,396 --> 00:18:39,476 Speaker 1: to try and gain more credibility in the eyes of 274 00:18:39,516 --> 00:18:44,116 Speaker 1: the police force given your status as quote mom. You know, 275 00:18:44,356 --> 00:18:47,836 Speaker 1: I think that they were dismissive because I was a mom, 276 00:18:48,196 --> 00:18:51,916 Speaker 1: They would dismissive because I was black, all of these things, 277 00:18:52,436 --> 00:18:54,956 Speaker 1: and I don't know if they would treat everyone like that, 278 00:18:54,996 --> 00:18:58,076 Speaker 1: but I felt that they treated me very badly. But 279 00:18:58,196 --> 00:19:04,036 Speaker 1: I believe that they felt that because I'm not I 280 00:19:04,076 --> 00:19:07,356 Speaker 1: didn't go to law school. I didn't go to the 281 00:19:07,356 --> 00:19:11,476 Speaker 1: police academy that they're for. That my only knowledge about 282 00:19:11,996 --> 00:19:17,756 Speaker 1: solving crimes is Special Victims Unit on Law and Order. 283 00:19:17,836 --> 00:19:20,796 Speaker 1: That's what That's what they basically thought that I was doing. 284 00:19:21,356 --> 00:19:23,956 Speaker 1: And just like I told them, I said, no, this 285 00:19:24,036 --> 00:19:27,756 Speaker 1: is basic information. I mean, you know, I had to 286 00:19:28,116 --> 00:19:33,316 Speaker 1: actually read a lot of terminology. I had to understand 287 00:19:33,996 --> 00:19:36,396 Speaker 1: everything that I was reading in their report. Some things 288 00:19:36,436 --> 00:19:38,476 Speaker 1: I didn't understand and I had to go and look 289 00:19:38,516 --> 00:19:40,156 Speaker 1: it up. Well, what does this mean? When they say, 290 00:19:40,196 --> 00:19:44,156 Speaker 1: this is what does these code me in police language. 291 00:19:44,196 --> 00:19:46,836 Speaker 1: So in order for me to understand that, I had 292 00:19:46,876 --> 00:19:49,636 Speaker 1: to actually reach out to a couple of police offers 293 00:19:49,636 --> 00:19:52,156 Speaker 1: of friends that I know, had to reach out to 294 00:19:52,516 --> 00:19:55,116 Speaker 1: some share off people that I know, and to try 295 00:19:55,116 --> 00:19:57,956 Speaker 1: to figure out the terminology so I can understand on 296 00:19:58,116 --> 00:20:01,956 Speaker 1: their level. Same with the autopsic report. It's a lot 297 00:20:01,956 --> 00:20:05,916 Speaker 1: of medical terminology I didn't know, so as a mom, 298 00:20:06,316 --> 00:20:09,436 Speaker 1: I had to take off my mom emotional world and 299 00:20:09,476 --> 00:20:14,276 Speaker 1: put on my investigative mode hat and try to figure 300 00:20:14,276 --> 00:20:16,276 Speaker 1: out what happened to my son. So I wanted to 301 00:20:16,316 --> 00:20:20,716 Speaker 1: know all the ins and outs, how the bullet travel everything, 302 00:20:20,836 --> 00:20:23,076 Speaker 1: And people were like, this is just too much. It's 303 00:20:23,076 --> 00:20:25,396 Speaker 1: too much, You're doing too much, and I will tell 304 00:20:25,436 --> 00:20:27,916 Speaker 1: them no, I need to know. I need to know 305 00:20:28,036 --> 00:20:31,636 Speaker 1: how did my son pass away. I need to know. 306 00:20:33,316 --> 00:20:37,076 Speaker 1: Together with the Invisible Institute, Chaparral continued to advocate for 307 00:20:37,116 --> 00:20:41,196 Speaker 1: the release of footage from Courtney's final moments, and finally 308 00:20:41,316 --> 00:20:44,036 Speaker 1: the police agree to turn it over. One and a 309 00:20:44,116 --> 00:20:48,396 Speaker 1: half years after Courtney's death, I asked chaparl what it 310 00:20:48,476 --> 00:20:50,716 Speaker 1: was like to hold those videos in her hands for 311 00:20:50,756 --> 00:20:58,476 Speaker 1: the first time. You know, I remember receiving the videos 312 00:20:59,236 --> 00:21:05,036 Speaker 1: in my mailbox, and I had prepared myself all right, 313 00:21:05,876 --> 00:21:09,476 Speaker 1: came up in my room, set up the DVD player, 314 00:21:10,836 --> 00:21:14,356 Speaker 1: got prepared to watch it. I prayed before I loaded 315 00:21:14,396 --> 00:21:15,916 Speaker 1: it because I knew it was going to be hard 316 00:21:16,676 --> 00:21:21,436 Speaker 1: to actually see it. I pop it in and it 317 00:21:21,516 --> 00:21:25,556 Speaker 1: tells me it's in a format that I can't even read. 318 00:21:26,676 --> 00:21:32,836 Speaker 1: So I remember feeling this horrible, horrible feeling like they're 319 00:21:32,876 --> 00:21:36,076 Speaker 1: playing with me, They're playing with my emotions. They knew 320 00:21:36,116 --> 00:21:38,196 Speaker 1: that they sent me a format that I couldn't read, 321 00:21:38,676 --> 00:21:41,316 Speaker 1: so I remember just crying out, and I called the 322 00:21:41,356 --> 00:21:44,756 Speaker 1: Invisible Institute to ask them if they can decode it. 323 00:21:45,956 --> 00:21:50,716 Speaker 1: So the moment that we get the videotape decoded, I 324 00:21:50,836 --> 00:21:55,556 Speaker 1: remember the Invisible Institute being with me, and all I 325 00:21:55,596 --> 00:22:00,396 Speaker 1: could see is my son just like reaching up on 326 00:22:00,476 --> 00:22:07,076 Speaker 1: his knees, begging them to help, begging. He surrounded by 327 00:22:07,196 --> 00:22:11,836 Speaker 1: eight to ten cops. My son is begging to be helped, 328 00:22:13,156 --> 00:22:18,956 Speaker 1: and then the video cuts away and focuses on the 329 00:22:18,996 --> 00:22:23,996 Speaker 1: police station for two minutes, and so I'm like, what 330 00:22:24,156 --> 00:22:28,636 Speaker 1: is happening to my son? I'm panicking because I don't 331 00:22:28,636 --> 00:22:30,796 Speaker 1: even know what's happening. At this point, why would the 332 00:22:30,916 --> 00:22:36,796 Speaker 1: video just automatically turn away from the scene into we're 333 00:22:36,836 --> 00:22:41,956 Speaker 1: watching the police station. And then the next frame is 334 00:22:41,956 --> 00:22:45,156 Speaker 1: when they aggressively picked up my son off the ground, 335 00:22:45,716 --> 00:22:49,556 Speaker 1: throw him against the police car, and then onto the 336 00:22:49,596 --> 00:22:52,716 Speaker 1: gurney as if he was a ragged out And that's 337 00:22:52,756 --> 00:23:02,196 Speaker 1: why I often tell people, it's so hard, it's so 338 00:23:02,276 --> 00:23:07,076 Speaker 1: hard to even imagine the emotions that my son. I 339 00:23:08,076 --> 00:23:13,716 Speaker 1: just know my son was just so confused, like police 340 00:23:13,756 --> 00:23:16,076 Speaker 1: are supposed to be here to serve and protect you, 341 00:23:17,916 --> 00:23:24,076 Speaker 1: and I'm shocked, I'm scared what's happening. And this is 342 00:23:24,076 --> 00:23:28,956 Speaker 1: what his final moments worked, and he was by himself. 343 00:23:29,396 --> 00:23:31,956 Speaker 1: And I tell people all the time that's like the 344 00:23:31,996 --> 00:23:36,556 Speaker 1: hardest thing for me as a mom to know that 345 00:23:36,836 --> 00:23:40,436 Speaker 1: he endured all this by himself, and there was nobody 346 00:23:40,516 --> 00:23:47,116 Speaker 1: there who cared enough for him to help him through 347 00:23:47,156 --> 00:23:53,396 Speaker 1: this and to comfort him in these moments. Not a 348 00:23:53,516 --> 00:24:08,596 Speaker 1: soul was there. We'll be back in a moment with 349 00:24:08,676 --> 00:24:15,596 Speaker 1: a slight change of plans. Over the next several years, 350 00:24:15,716 --> 00:24:19,476 Speaker 1: Chaparral Wells continued to push for further clarity around what 351 00:24:19,636 --> 00:24:23,556 Speaker 1: actually happened to her son Courtney Copeland. In September of 352 00:24:23,596 --> 00:24:26,676 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, she received some news from the City of Chicago. 353 00:24:27,516 --> 00:24:31,916 Speaker 1: Chaparral's advocacy had paid off. The Office of the Inspector General, 354 00:24:31,996 --> 00:24:35,756 Speaker 1: an independent watchdog agency, had decided to launch a formal 355 00:24:35,836 --> 00:24:41,956 Speaker 1: investigation into Courtney's case. The investigation is currently under way. 356 00:24:42,876 --> 00:24:46,116 Speaker 1: Where do you go from here, Chaparral? A lot of 357 00:24:46,116 --> 00:24:49,156 Speaker 1: people say, you know, don't put too much stock in 358 00:24:49,316 --> 00:24:56,916 Speaker 1: what this report shows, But I think that what happened 359 00:24:57,196 --> 00:25:03,556 Speaker 1: to Courtney has to be addressed on all levels of 360 00:25:03,676 --> 00:25:08,716 Speaker 1: city government, state government, federal government, because I feel that 361 00:25:08,836 --> 00:25:16,076 Speaker 1: the incidents occur far more frequently than police shootings, but 362 00:25:16,196 --> 00:25:21,316 Speaker 1: they don't get the highlight and the notoriety because it's 363 00:25:21,396 --> 00:25:25,156 Speaker 1: not the police pulling the trigger or a beat down 364 00:25:25,396 --> 00:25:29,316 Speaker 1: or a knee on a neck. But these type of 365 00:25:29,436 --> 00:25:36,396 Speaker 1: incidents of racial profiling and the police accountability need to 366 00:25:36,396 --> 00:25:41,556 Speaker 1: be addressed. So I'm looking for more legislative changes to 367 00:25:41,636 --> 00:25:47,436 Speaker 1: see if the Inspector General kild make policy changes that 368 00:25:47,476 --> 00:25:52,876 Speaker 1: would change the policy from they can intervene until they 369 00:25:53,196 --> 00:25:57,196 Speaker 1: must intervene to help to save more lives. Because the 370 00:25:57,276 --> 00:25:59,796 Speaker 1: reality is is that, like I said, it wasn't the 371 00:25:59,836 --> 00:26:02,476 Speaker 1: fact that Courtney was shot. It was the lack of 372 00:26:02,636 --> 00:26:07,396 Speaker 1: urgency to his care. You know, recently, Offers a French 373 00:26:07,876 --> 00:26:13,036 Speaker 1: was shot Chicago and she was killed. I listened to 374 00:26:13,196 --> 00:26:18,916 Speaker 1: that traffic on the police scanner that day, and I 375 00:26:18,956 --> 00:26:22,556 Speaker 1: was listening in real time. I saw how they move 376 00:26:22,716 --> 00:26:25,756 Speaker 1: heaven and earth to get her to the nearest trauma 377 00:26:25,796 --> 00:26:30,156 Speaker 1: center as they should. As they should, But that same 378 00:26:30,276 --> 00:26:34,236 Speaker 1: care that they put for offers of French should go 379 00:26:34,316 --> 00:26:38,916 Speaker 1: for every citizen in Chicago in the United States. There 380 00:26:38,916 --> 00:26:41,916 Speaker 1: should be no respect of person because of their title. 381 00:26:42,796 --> 00:26:46,716 Speaker 1: But everybody deserves a fighting chance, and so if we 382 00:26:46,836 --> 00:26:52,716 Speaker 1: make these legislative changes to ensure that everyone has the 383 00:26:52,876 --> 00:27:00,196 Speaker 1: opportunity at life, then that would be justice for Courtney. 384 00:27:02,796 --> 00:27:05,596 Speaker 1: Did you ever find your relationship at the police changing 385 00:27:05,836 --> 00:27:09,396 Speaker 1: throughout this process, I mean, how you approach that change 386 00:27:09,516 --> 00:27:14,196 Speaker 1: in any way? Well, I would say we still have 387 00:27:14,236 --> 00:27:19,076 Speaker 1: a contentious relationship. I would say that I still have 388 00:27:19,116 --> 00:27:23,436 Speaker 1: no faith in them that they would actually solve Courtney's murder. 389 00:27:23,996 --> 00:27:28,556 Speaker 1: But I'm hoping that we can come to a clear 390 00:27:28,636 --> 00:27:34,116 Speaker 1: understanding that Courtney deserves justice. This was not for me 391 00:27:35,596 --> 00:27:40,156 Speaker 1: an investigation on the police to try to entrap them 392 00:27:40,276 --> 00:27:42,996 Speaker 1: or to make them look like the bad guy. I 393 00:27:43,116 --> 00:27:46,956 Speaker 1: wanted justice for my son. It didn't matter if it 394 00:27:46,996 --> 00:27:50,796 Speaker 1: was the police, if it was a stranger. Whoever did 395 00:27:50,876 --> 00:27:55,356 Speaker 1: this to Courtney, they deserved to be prosecuted and convicted 396 00:27:55,436 --> 00:27:58,156 Speaker 1: of this crime. So that was my only goal, and 397 00:27:58,236 --> 00:28:00,636 Speaker 1: I was always telling them, I want you to treat 398 00:28:01,156 --> 00:28:03,996 Speaker 1: my son as if it was yours. How would you 399 00:28:04,196 --> 00:28:08,316 Speaker 1: go about handling this investigation if it was your child 400 00:28:08,436 --> 00:28:14,516 Speaker 1: on that slab instead of mine. I'm curious to know 401 00:28:14,556 --> 00:28:18,436 Speaker 1: how having clarity around Courtney's death will impact your life 402 00:28:18,876 --> 00:28:23,636 Speaker 1: on a personal level. Aside from the advocacy part. I 403 00:28:23,756 --> 00:28:29,196 Speaker 1: know there's nothing I could do. I know as a mother, 404 00:28:29,316 --> 00:28:33,316 Speaker 1: I cannot change what happened. I don't even know if 405 00:28:33,476 --> 00:28:39,156 Speaker 1: me being there would have been any different. But for me, 406 00:28:39,996 --> 00:28:46,276 Speaker 1: the clarity I have is more introspective about life and 407 00:28:46,316 --> 00:28:51,836 Speaker 1: how fragile it is, and how that you live every 408 00:28:51,876 --> 00:28:57,636 Speaker 1: moment as if it's your last, and you love harder 409 00:28:58,796 --> 00:29:02,836 Speaker 1: and you love more freely. So that's the clarity I've 410 00:29:02,916 --> 00:29:07,956 Speaker 1: learned in all of this, is to make sure you 411 00:29:08,036 --> 00:29:10,876 Speaker 1: tell everyone that you love them. Because I didn't know 412 00:29:12,236 --> 00:29:14,236 Speaker 1: that I wasn't going to be able to tell my 413 00:29:14,276 --> 00:29:18,036 Speaker 1: son that and now I only can tell him and 414 00:29:18,156 --> 00:29:23,476 Speaker 1: my actions and my continuous fight for him, But I 415 00:29:23,516 --> 00:29:26,476 Speaker 1: wish I had that moment to say that for him 416 00:29:26,516 --> 00:29:30,396 Speaker 1: to hear it. Do you think this reflects a change 417 00:29:30,476 --> 00:29:33,716 Speaker 1: and how you how you've thought about your goals throughout, 418 00:29:33,756 --> 00:29:36,756 Speaker 1: which is at the beginning you were seeking clarity around 419 00:29:36,796 --> 00:29:42,116 Speaker 1: the facts, and actually now it's it's also its clarity 420 00:29:42,156 --> 00:29:44,796 Speaker 1: around how you plan to live the rest of your life. 421 00:29:44,916 --> 00:29:47,356 Speaker 1: Like that's what you ended up getting from it. Yeah, 422 00:29:47,436 --> 00:29:51,276 Speaker 1: you know, it's this poem that I often quote. The 423 00:29:51,316 --> 00:29:55,356 Speaker 1: hardest thing was hearing that my son had passed away, 424 00:29:56,556 --> 00:29:58,956 Speaker 1: But now it's the hardest thing is going on and 425 00:29:59,036 --> 00:30:03,796 Speaker 1: living without him. Now that I've heard that, and that 426 00:30:03,916 --> 00:30:07,396 Speaker 1: is that is the truth? How do you? How do 427 00:30:07,476 --> 00:30:11,636 Speaker 1: you continue to move forward and go on? And I 428 00:30:11,676 --> 00:30:16,636 Speaker 1: hope that what the world gathers from Courtney is just 429 00:30:16,756 --> 00:30:20,796 Speaker 1: to love, Just to love, to show the love and 430 00:30:20,956 --> 00:30:24,476 Speaker 1: not be afraid to show how you feel about someone. 431 00:30:25,076 --> 00:30:27,676 Speaker 1: One of the greatest things about Courtney that I learned 432 00:30:28,356 --> 00:30:32,596 Speaker 1: and his death is that he had this keen ability 433 00:30:33,116 --> 00:30:37,676 Speaker 1: to make everyone feel special, to make everyone feel loved. 434 00:30:38,316 --> 00:30:42,196 Speaker 1: And if you ask any of his friends, they'll say 435 00:30:42,236 --> 00:30:45,716 Speaker 1: Courtney was my best friend. Usually we only get one, 436 00:30:46,796 --> 00:30:51,276 Speaker 1: but he made everyone feel like they were his best friend, 437 00:30:52,556 --> 00:30:57,756 Speaker 1: and so I'm learning from him those qualities of making 438 00:30:57,796 --> 00:31:04,756 Speaker 1: myself vulnerable and to show love more often has telling 439 00:31:04,796 --> 00:31:08,036 Speaker 1: Courtney's story, including the story of how well he lived 440 00:31:08,076 --> 00:31:11,036 Speaker 1: his life, helped you heal in ways that you couldn't 441 00:31:11,076 --> 00:31:15,716 Speaker 1: have anticipated. I would say, yes, Um, as a parent, 442 00:31:16,756 --> 00:31:23,156 Speaker 1: you grow up teaching your children the morals guidance. You 443 00:31:23,196 --> 00:31:27,196 Speaker 1: know you're still you're instilling so much into them, and 444 00:31:27,276 --> 00:31:29,796 Speaker 1: you're like, I want, I hope these kids are listening 445 00:31:29,836 --> 00:31:33,316 Speaker 1: to me. And what what what I found out in 446 00:31:33,436 --> 00:31:37,076 Speaker 1: his death is that he was the way I raised 447 00:31:37,156 --> 00:31:40,356 Speaker 1: him is the way that he was living. And so 448 00:31:40,436 --> 00:31:43,876 Speaker 1: I find so much comfort and so much joy and 449 00:31:44,116 --> 00:31:47,876 Speaker 1: hearing other people talk about my son the way that 450 00:31:47,916 --> 00:31:54,236 Speaker 1: he made them feel. I recall the weekend that Courtney 451 00:31:54,876 --> 00:31:58,756 Speaker 1: had passed away. I opened my home to the public 452 00:31:58,876 --> 00:32:01,996 Speaker 1: because it was just so much outpouring of grief, and 453 00:32:02,036 --> 00:32:05,636 Speaker 1: they were grieving with me, grieving for me, and we 454 00:32:05,636 --> 00:32:09,956 Speaker 1: were all united in this great loss of Ortney Copeland. 455 00:32:10,676 --> 00:32:13,836 Speaker 1: And I had opened my house to anyone who wanted 456 00:32:13,916 --> 00:32:18,156 Speaker 1: to come and pay their respects, and I remember a 457 00:32:18,276 --> 00:32:22,716 Speaker 1: gentleman walking into my home and he told me, he said, 458 00:32:22,836 --> 00:32:25,356 Speaker 1: you don't know me, and I don't even know your son, 459 00:32:25,596 --> 00:32:29,556 Speaker 1: but I saw his photo on the TV that he 460 00:32:29,636 --> 00:32:34,356 Speaker 1: had been killed. And he handed me this koran. And 461 00:32:34,476 --> 00:32:38,116 Speaker 1: he hands me this koran. He said, ma'am, your son 462 00:32:38,236 --> 00:32:44,076 Speaker 1: came into my restaurant about a month ago and he 463 00:32:44,436 --> 00:32:47,196 Speaker 1: saw me. He was sitting with his girlfriend. He saw me. 464 00:32:47,276 --> 00:32:49,876 Speaker 1: He said, I was in so much pain that day, 465 00:32:50,396 --> 00:32:53,716 Speaker 1: and he said, your son saw the anguish in my face. 466 00:32:53,796 --> 00:32:57,636 Speaker 1: And he walked over to me and he said, Sir, 467 00:32:57,836 --> 00:33:00,916 Speaker 1: I don't know you, but I just want to encourage 468 00:33:00,916 --> 00:33:04,756 Speaker 1: you today. I want to give you some hope and 469 00:33:04,876 --> 00:33:06,996 Speaker 1: tell you that whatever it is that you're going through, 470 00:33:07,796 --> 00:33:09,676 Speaker 1: that God is going to be able to help you. 471 00:33:11,076 --> 00:33:16,076 Speaker 1: He started crying, and he said, because your son came 472 00:33:16,156 --> 00:33:19,516 Speaker 1: to me in that day and he gave me those 473 00:33:19,516 --> 00:33:22,956 Speaker 1: words of encouragement and told me to keep going and 474 00:33:22,956 --> 00:33:25,716 Speaker 1: whatever I was going through it was going to be okay. 475 00:33:26,596 --> 00:33:30,036 Speaker 1: I'm here today, and he turned around he walked out, 476 00:33:31,196 --> 00:33:34,716 Speaker 1: and I just like, oh my God, and you have 477 00:33:34,916 --> 00:33:41,436 Speaker 1: so much You have so much joy and sadness at 478 00:33:41,476 --> 00:33:45,196 Speaker 1: the same time. But you as a parent, you said, 479 00:33:45,356 --> 00:33:49,476 Speaker 1: my child has feel listening in there, and they're validating 480 00:33:50,076 --> 00:33:53,076 Speaker 1: you as a parent, and so I thought that was 481 00:33:53,156 --> 00:33:59,836 Speaker 1: just like so profound that we wanted him to grow 482 00:33:59,956 --> 00:34:03,756 Speaker 1: up and treat people with dignity and respect, and that's 483 00:34:03,756 --> 00:34:06,076 Speaker 1: the way I would want him to have been treated 484 00:34:06,076 --> 00:34:21,556 Speaker 1: as well. There's an update to Chaparral's story that I 485 00:34:21,596 --> 00:34:24,956 Speaker 1: wanted to share with you. When she and I initially spoke, 486 00:34:25,076 --> 00:34:29,476 Speaker 1: the Inspector General's investigation was still under way, but Chaparral 487 00:34:29,636 --> 00:34:32,996 Speaker 1: was recently notified that the investigation has wrapped up and 488 00:34:33,076 --> 00:34:35,916 Speaker 1: a final report has been sent to the City of Chicago. 489 00:34:36,676 --> 00:34:38,956 Speaker 1: The report is slated to be released to the public 490 00:34:39,036 --> 00:34:42,436 Speaker 1: in the coming months. For more details on the evolution 491 00:34:42,436 --> 00:34:45,716 Speaker 1: of Courtney's case, you can listen to the podcast Somebody, 492 00:34:46,196 --> 00:34:48,836 Speaker 1: which was named a finalist for a Pulled Surprise this 493 00:34:48,956 --> 00:34:58,916 Speaker 1: past year. Hey, thanks so much for listening to A 494 00:34:58,956 --> 00:35:01,676 Speaker 1: Slight Change of Plans this year and for sharing the 495 00:35:01,676 --> 00:35:04,316 Speaker 1: show with others. We're hard at work on a new 496 00:35:04,316 --> 00:35:07,276 Speaker 1: batch of episodes, but in the meantime, you can check 497 00:35:07,276 --> 00:35:09,756 Speaker 1: out the feed for episodes you may not heard yet. 498 00:35:10,316 --> 00:35:12,916 Speaker 1: From the whole Slight Change family. We're wishing you a 499 00:35:12,956 --> 00:35:15,916 Speaker 1: peaceful and RESTful holiday. We'll see you in the new year. 500 00:35:18,916 --> 00:35:21,996 Speaker 1: A Slight Change of Plans is created, written an executive 501 00:35:21,996 --> 00:35:25,876 Speaker 1: produce by me Maya Shunker. The Slight Change family includes 502 00:35:25,996 --> 00:35:29,916 Speaker 1: Tyler Greene our senior producer, Jen Guerra our senior editor, 503 00:35:30,276 --> 00:35:34,916 Speaker 1: Ben Taliday, our sound engineer, Emily Rosteck our associate producer, 504 00:35:35,156 --> 00:35:39,356 Speaker 1: and Neil Lavelle our executive producer. Louis Skara wrote our 505 00:35:39,396 --> 00:35:42,156 Speaker 1: theme song in Ginger Smith helped to arrange the vocals. 506 00:35:42,796 --> 00:35:45,876 Speaker 1: A Slight Change of Plants the production of Pushkin Industries 507 00:35:46,276 --> 00:35:50,716 Speaker 1: so big thanks to everyone there, including Malcolm Bladwell, Jacob Weisberg, 508 00:35:50,996 --> 00:35:54,476 Speaker 1: Lee tal Malat, and Heather Fame and of course a 509 00:35:54,716 --> 00:35:58,196 Speaker 1: very special thanks to Jimmy Lee. You can follow A 510 00:35:58,236 --> 00:36:01,436 Speaker 1: Slight Change of Plans on Instagram at doctor Maya Schunker. 511 00:36:05,716 --> 00:36:08,156 Speaker 1: Can you just quickly share the story of finding out 512 00:36:08,276 --> 00:36:13,476 Speaker 1: what Courtney name you on his phone? You know, we're 513 00:36:13,516 --> 00:36:16,396 Speaker 1: going through his phone and we're looking at all the 514 00:36:16,516 --> 00:36:22,516 Speaker 1: messages and it says, oh, whose number is this? And 515 00:36:22,596 --> 00:36:26,436 Speaker 1: the blow and behold it's my number. And I'm like, 516 00:36:28,756 --> 00:36:31,636 Speaker 1: you know, as anywether as He's like here she go again. 517 00:36:31,836 --> 00:36:35,476 Speaker 1: Oh but he would also call me Mama Bear. He 518 00:36:35,516 --> 00:36:38,596 Speaker 1: would like Mama Bear, Mama Bear. And I think that 519 00:36:38,596 --> 00:36:41,596 Speaker 1: that that is just it, and Mama Bear is fighting 520 00:36:41,636 --> 00:36:46,356 Speaker 1: for him. And he knew that whatever situation, whether it 521 00:36:46,396 --> 00:36:49,116 Speaker 1: was oh oh, Mama Bear, I was going to be 522 00:36:49,196 --> 00:36:52,196 Speaker 1: somebody that's going to be determined to find out what 523 00:36:52,316 --> 00:36:52,996 Speaker 1: happened to him.