Frenemies (2013–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - Cruel Intentions - full transcript

Narrator: TWO YOUNG MEN
ARE AS CLOSE AS BROTHERS.

THEY WERE TIGHT
AND REALLY CLOSE.

Narrator:
BUT TRAGEDY AND BETRAYAL
WOULD RIP THEM APART...

Gussler:
I'M SURE THEY DIDN'T KNOW

THE EXTENT OF HIS PAIN
AND HIS DESTRUCTION.

Narrator:
...AND RUIN BOTH THEIR LIVES.

I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D EVER HAVE A FRIEND

THAT DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

Narrator:
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE
AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

ALEX COVER AND DEQUAN CARTER
MEET IN THE EIGHTH GRADE.



ALEX IS POPULAR,
ATHLETIC, AND BRIGHT.

HE WAS
THE SMARTEST KID I KNEW --

GREAT IN SCHOOL, GREAT GRADES,
A PEOPLE PERSON.

IT'S HARD TO FIND A PERSON
THAT DIDN'T LIKE HIM.

HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE
I KNEW.

Narrator: DEQUAN IS
A FUN-LOVING CLASS CLOWN.

Miller: HE WAS A JOKESTER.

HE WAS JUST FUNNY --
VERY FUNNY KID.

MAKING EVERYBODY LAUGH,
DOING SOMETHING GOOFY,

BEING THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.

HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY,
"I LOVE YOU, DAD."

HE WASN'T SHY ABOUT SAYING THAT
TO ME IN FRONT OF ANYONE.

Narrator: THE BOYS GROW UP IN
THE SAME LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD

AND FACE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
TOGETHER.



WELL, THEY KIND OF LIVED
IN A BAD AREA --

A LOT OF CRIME, A LOT OF DRUGS.

Narrator:
BUT DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES,
THE BOYS' FRIENDSHIP GROWS,

AND DEQUAN SPENDS
MOST OF HIS FREE TIME WITH ALEX.

AT ALEX'S HOUSE,
DEQUAN BECAME, YOU KNOW,

PRETTY CLOSE WITH THE FAMILY.

ALEX'S MOTHER --
SHE LIKED DEQUAN A LOT.

Gussler:
THEY REALLY HAD TAKEN HIM IN.

THE WHOLE FAMILY SEEMED CLOSE
WITH DEQUAN AND VICE VERSA,

AND HE'D HAVE DINNERS THERE
AND SLEEP OVER.

THEY WAS DEFINITELY
BEST FRIENDS.

Narrator:
BUT THEIR CLOSE FRIENDSHIP
IS ABOUT TO BE TESTED.

ONE DAY IN THE FALL OF 2006,

DEQUAN AND ALEX
ARE PLAYING FOOTBALL,

EXPECTING ALEX'S BROTHER,
NICHOLAS, TO JOIN THEM.

BUT WHEN HE DOESN'T APPEAR,

ALEX GOES INTO THE HOUSE
TO FIND HIM.

William Sr.:
ALEX WAS CALLING FOR HIM,

AND THAT'S WHEN
ALEX WENT DOWN AND FOUND HIM.

Narrator: TO HIS HORROR,

ALEX FINDS HIS 21-YEAR-OLD
BROTHER IN THE BASEMENT,

DEAD,
HANGING FROM A SELF-MADE NOOSE.

HIS BROTHER, NICHOLAS,
HAD SUFFERED

FROM A DEBILITATING DEPRESSION
FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE.

WELL, NICK HAD
SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS,

BUT I KNOW
ALEX LOOKED UP TO HIM.

I KNOW ALEX AND NICK
LOVED EACH OTHER.

Narrator: THE VISION
OF HIS BROTHER'S SUICIDE

WILL HAUNT ALEX
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

I GOT A CALL FROM ALEX,
CRYING AND BEING ALL CRAZY

AND I'VE NEVER
SEEN HIM LIKE THAT BEFORE.

HE LOVED HIS BROTHER SO MUCH,
SO I THINK THAT DESTROYED HIM,

Gussler: HIS BROTHER'S SUICIDE

WAS A VERY,
VERY TRAUMATIC EVENT FOR HIM,

AND I THINK
THAT HAD A REAL IMPACT.

Narrator: DEQUAN IS ALSO
DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THE SUICIDE.

I REMEMBER
'QUAN COMING HOME CRYING

AND SAYING THAT ALEX'S BROTHER
JUST KILLED HIMSELF.

Narrator: DEQUAN TRIES
TO HELP HIS BEST FRIEND

THROUGH THE TRAGEDY
AS BEST HE CAN.

DEQUAN WAS A PALLBEARER

AND HELPED ALEX
PUT NICHOLAS IN THE GROUND,

SO THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL --
SOMEBODY ASKS YOU TO DO THAT.

I DEFINITELY THINK
IT BROUGHT THEM CLOSER.

ONE OF YOUR BUDDIES
GOES THROUGH A HARD TIME,

YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE
AND SUPPORT HIM,

AND THAT'S WHAT 'QUAN DID.

Narrator:
BUT EVEN DEQUAN'S HEARTFELT
ATTEMPTS TO COMFORT HIS FRIEND

ARE NOT ENOUGH
TO SOFTEN ALEX'S DEVASTATION.

ALEX WENT FROM BEING SO HAPPY
TO JUST CONSTANTLY BEING SAD.

HE STARTED SUFFERING
FROM NIGHTMARES.

HE SAID HE ALWAYS SAW
HIS BROTHER IN ALL HIS DREAMS.

I THINK THAT'S WHEN ALEX'S LIFE
CHANGED FOR THE WORSE.

Gussler:
ALEX BEGAN SELF-MEDICATING.

HE BECAME KIND OF
SWALLOWED UP BY THE STREETS

AND BEGAN ABUSING DRUGS
AND ALCOHOL PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY

TO KIND OF NUMB THE PAIN.

Narrator: CONSUMED BY HIS GRIEF,

ALEX BEGINS TO MAKE
A SERIES OF BAD CHOICES.

Day: ALEX STARTED HANGING OUT

WITH PEOPLE THAT HE HAD
NO BUSINESS HANGING OUT WITH.

EXCESSIVE DRINKING,
EXCESSIVE DRUG USE,

HE STOPPED GOING TO SCHOOL.

THERE WAS
SOME ANGER STORED UP IN HIM,

AND HE WAS MAKING A BAD CHANGE.

Narrator:
ONLY A FEW MONTHS LATER,

DEQUAN ALSO GOES THROUGH A ROUGH
TIME WHEN HIS PARENTS SEPARATE.

HE DROPS OUT OF SCHOOL

AND STARTS SPENDING MORE TIME
ON THE STREETS.

HANGING WITH THE WRONG CROWD,

BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE
AT THE WRONG TIME.

Day:
JUST GETTING INTO BAD THINGS.

LIVING HARD, THOUGH --
LIVING LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.

THE BOYS HAD TURNED
TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

THEY'RE MAKING DUMB DECISIONS.

Narrator: BOTH YOUNG MEN ARE
HEADED DOWN A PERILOUS PATH --

ONE THAT WILL SOON
THREATEN THEIR FRIENDSHIP.

WHEN ALEX'S MOM REALIZES
THAT HER SON IS DOING DRUGS,

SHE BLAMES IT ON DEQUAN
AND TELLS HIM

HE'S NOT TO COME AROUND
THEIR HOUSE ANYMORE.

YOU'RE NO LONGER WELCOME
AT MY HOUSE.

WHAT -- WHAT DID I DO?'QUAN WAS SHOCKED, ANGRY.

Narrator: IT DRIVES A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE TWO CLOSE FRIENDS.

THEY ALWAYS SEEMED
CORDIAL WITH EACH OTHER,

BUT THEY WEREN'T REALLY
THAT GOOD OF BUDDIES AFTER THAT.

Narrator: A FEW WEEKS LATER,
IN AUGUST 2009,

SOMEONE BREAKS INTO ALEX'S HOUSE
AND STEALS HIS MOTHER'S JEWELRY.

ALEX WAS DEFINITELY PISSED --

I WOULD HAVE BEEN,
ANY PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN.

Narrator: AND EVEN MORE
SHOCKING, RUMOR HAS IT

THAT HIS FRIEND DEQUAN DID IT

TO GET BACK AT ALEX FOR BEING
THROWN OUT OF HIS HOUSE.

ALEX WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED.

I'M SURE HE KNEW

WHERE ALEX'S PARENTS
KEPT SOME VALUABLE THINGS,

AND I THINK
HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

Narrator:
BUT DEQUAN DENIES HE HAD
ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ROBBERY.

DEQUAN ACTUALLY TOLD ME

THAT HE DIDN'T
BREAK INTO ALEX'S HOUSE.

HE SAID IT WASN'T TRUE.

Narrator:
LITTLE DOES ANYONE KNOW

THE ROBBERY
IS JUST THE FIRST STEP

OF WHAT WILL ESCALATE
INTO A DEADLY VENDETTA.

THAT THIS YOUNG MAN WOULD BETRAY
HIM WAS OVERWHELMING TO HIM.

Day: I WAS SHOCKED.

I KNOW WHAT HE DID
WILL NEVER, NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

Narrator:
18-YEAR-OLD ALEX IS FURIOUS.

HE BELIEVES
THAT HIS GOOD FRIEND, DEQUAN,

WAS BEHIND THE ROBBERY
OF HIS PARENTS' HOME.

Gussler: PEOPLE STARTED
COMING TO HIM AND SAYING,

"WE'VE GOT IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY

THAT IT WAS DEQUAN
THAT COMMITTED THE BURGLARY."

Day: THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT
HELPED YOU BURY YOUR BROTHER,

HUGGED YOU AT THE FUNERAL

AND SAID HE LOVES YOU
AND THEN DID THAT TO YOU.

HE FELT BETRAYED.

Narrator:
BUT DEQUAN VEHEMENTLY DENIES

THAT HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH
THE ROBBERY.

William Jr.:
WELL, I BELIEVED HIM.

I DIDN'T ASK HIM
NO MORE QUESTIONS.

Narrator: DESPITE ALEX'S
FEELINGS OF BETRAYAL AND ANGER,

HE DOESN'T CALL THE POLICE.

THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF COLUMBUS
HAD DEVELOPED THEIR OWN RULES.

AND ONE OF THOSE RULES WAS
THAT YOU DON'T CALL THE POLICE.

IT'S NOT THE WAY THEY DO IT.

THEY SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS
WITH THEIR FISTS.

Narrator: AND A FEW DAYS LATER,
ALEX ANGRILY CONFRONTS DEQUAN.

ALEX HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR HIM.

AND I GUESS
THEY GOT INTO A FIGHT.

Narrator: ANGRY WORDS
QUICKLY ESCALATE INTO VIOLENCE.

IT WASN'T ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHO --

THE BOTH GOT PUNCHED
IN THE FACE.

I KNOW IT WAS YOU!

GET OUT OF HERE!

Narrator:
A FURIOUS ALEX WALKS OFF,

AND THE BOYS GO
THEIR SEPARATE WAYS.

DESPITE FEELING ANGRY
AND BETRAYED,

HE DOESN'T PRESS CHARGES,

BUT THEIR FRIENDSHIP
OF FOUR YEARS IS OVER.

HE LOST TRUST IN SOMEBODY
THAT HE PUT TRUST IN.

HE BETRAYED HIM.

AND YOU LOSE ALEX'S TRUST ONCE,
YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT BACK.

HE TURNED INTO ONE OF
ALEX'S ENEMIES AFTER THAT.

Narrator: AND DEQUAN IS ANGRY

THAT ALEX BELIEVES
HE COMMITTED THE ROBBERY.

HE WAS JUST LIKE,
"I DIDN'T DO IT, AND, YOU KNOW,

IF I GOT TO DEFEND MYSELF,
I'M GONNA DEFEND MYSELF."

HE JUST WANTED
TO JUST END THE FRIENDSHIP.

Narrator: NOW ON HIS OWN,

DEQUAN DECIDES IT'S TIME
TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND

AND GOES BACK TO SCHOOL.

HE WAS TIRED -- TIRED OF RUNNING
THE STREETS, HANGING OUT.

HE ACTUALLY SAID TO ME,

"I NEED TO DO SOMETHING,
YOU KNOW, WITH MY LIFE,

BECAUSE I'M 18 YEARS OLD,
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TIRED."

William Jr.:
HE WANTED BETTER FOR HIMSELF.

HE STARTED THINKING ABOUT,
"WHAT AM I GONNA BE LATER ON?"

"WHAT DO I WANT TO DO?"

HE JUST TOLD ME -- HE SAID,

"WELL, AUNT LU, I'VE BEEN
CALLING DIFFERENT PLACES

TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE
I CAN GO AND GET MY G.E.D."

HE WANTED TO GO
TO OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

AT THAT TIME, HE WAS PRETTY MUCH
TRYING TO FIND HIMSELF

INSTEAD OF JUST
RUNNING AROUND WILD AND LOOSE.

Narrator: MEANWHILE, ALEX'S LIFE
CONTINUES TO SPIRAL DOWNWARD,

AND HE BECOMES
EVEN MORE WITHDRAWN.

ALEX NEVER KNEW WHAT IT REALLY
FELT LIKE TO BE DEPRESSED.

I THINK THAT HIT HIM HARD,

AND IT WAS A LOT FOR HIM
TO TAKE IN AT THE TIME.

Narrator:
ALEX CAN'T SEEM TO GET OVER

THE SENSE OF BETRAYAL
BY HIS FORMER BEST FRIEND

AND IS HARBORING
A DEEP-SEATED GRUDGE.

IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED,
IT FESTERED.

HE WOULD ALTERNATE
BETWEEN LETTING IT GO

AND THEN ALL OF THOSE FEELINGS
OF BETRAYAL WOULD COME OUT.

Narrator: A YEAR AFTER
THE ROBBERY, IN SEPTEMBER 2010,

19-YEAR-OLD ALEX AND HIS FRIEND
ARE AT A CONVENIENCE STORE

WHEN THEY RUN INTO DEQUAN,
UNEXPECTEDLY,

IN THE PARKING LOT.

'QUAN PULLED UP ON HIS BICYCLE,

BUT ALEX
DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO 'QUAN.

Narrator: DEQUAN ISN'T SURE
WHAT TO MAKE OF THE ENCOUNTER.

HE TOLD ME HE HAD SEEN ALEX,

AND HE SAID
SOMETHING DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT.

HE SAID, "DAD, WHEN THEY SAW ME,
THEY LOOKED SPOOKED.

THEY LOOKED SHOCKED TO SEE ME."

HE SAID, "THEY DIDN'T
SAY ANYTHING TO ME."

AND HE SAID, "THEY JUST LEFT."

Narrator: IN FACT, THE ENCOUNTER
DEEPLY AFFECTS ALEX.

HE DECIDES
HE WANTS TO BURY THE HATCHET

AND MAKE UP WITH DEQUAN.

WHEN ALEX WANTS TO DO SOMETHING,
HE WANTS TO DO IT.

Narrator:
BUT NO ONE COULD ANTICIPATE

WHAT WILL COME
OF ALEX'S INTENTIONS.

ALL OF THOSE FEELINGS OF
BETRAYAL WOULD FESTER BACK UP.

IT WAS A PERFECT STORM.

I WOULD HAVE NEVER
SEEN THAT COMING.

THREW ME OFF 100%.

IT WAS THE WORST DAY
THAT I EVER, EVER, EVER HAD.

Narrator:
AFTER UNEXPECTEDLY RUNNING INTO

HIS FORMER BEST FRIEND
IN A PARKING LOT,

ALEX TELLS FRIENDS
HE WANTS TO GO TO DEQUAN'S PLACE

TO SORT OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES
LATER THAT NIGHT.

THE TWO HAVEN'T SPOKEN
IN MORE THAN A YEAR.

I DIDN'T THINK
GOING TO 'QUAN'S HOUSE

WAS A GOOD IDEA AT ALL
JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR PAST.

Narrator:
BEFORE HE GOES TO DEQUAN'S,
ALEX BEGINS TO DRINK HEAVILY,

MIXING ALCOHOL
WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Day:
AND HE WANTED TO BE LEFT ALONE,

SO I RESPECTED HIM
AND LEFT HIM ALONE, YOU KNOW?

Narrator: HIS FRIEND
FALLS ASLEEP ON THE COUCH

WHILE ALEX CONTINUES DRINKING.

EVEN THOUGH ALEX CLAIMS HE WANTS
TO RECONCILE WITH DEQUAN,

AS HE BECOMES
MORE AND MORE INTOXICATED,

HIS MOOD BEGINS TO CHANGE.

ALEX WAS PACING BACK AND FORTH.
IT WOKE ME UP OFF MY COUCH.

HE HAD THE LOOK LIKE --

HE JUST LOOKED
KIND OF STRESSED OUT,

AND I ASKED HIM
IF HE WAS ALL RIGHT,

AND HE SAID HE NEEDED A MINUTE.

I JUST REMEMBER
HIM COVERED IN SWEAT.

AND THEN I SAW
SOMETHING CHANGED IN HIS FACE,

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN,

ALEX JUST GRABBED
HIS PACK OF CIGARETTES,

LEFT, DIDN'T SAY A WORD TO ME.

HE WAS GONE.

Narrator: ALEX LEAVES THE HOUSE
AROUND MIDNIGHT.

AND WHEN AN HOUR PASSES,

HIS FRIEND BECOMES CONCERNED
AND TRIES TO CONTACT HIM.

I CALLED HIM, LEFT HIM MESSAGES,
SENT HIM TEXT MESSAGES,

TRYING TO HUNT HIM DOWN.

I, PERSONALLY, THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA HURT HIMSELF

LIKE HIS BROTHER
WHO HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS TERRIFIED OF.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
DEQUAN IS AT HOME RELAXING.

HIS FATHER TEXTS HIM,

LETTING HIM KNOW THAT
HE IS COMING HOME WITH PIZZA.

AND HE TEXTS ME BACK, "COOL"
WITH A SMILEY FACE.

AND THEN HE WAS LIKE,
"ALL RIGHT, DAD.

I LOVE YOU."

I TEXTED HIM BACK, "I LOVE YOU,
TOO," LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.

Narrator: DEQUAN WAITS
FOR HIS DAD OUTSIDE,

BUT HE IS SURPRISED
WHEN ALEX SUDDENLY SHOWS UP.

Day: IT WAS JUST QUAN AND ALEX,

AND THEY WERE TALKING,
AND IT WAS REALLY LATE.

Narrator:
ALEX TELLS DEQUAN HE WANTS
TO PUT THE PAST BEHIND HIM.

Day: THEY TALKED FACE TO FACE,

YOU KNOW,
SHOOK HANDS AND EVERYTHING.

THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA
BECOME FRIENDS AGAIN.

Narrator: THEN ALEX ASKED DEQUAN
IF HE WANTS TO SMOKE SOME POT,

AND, RELIEVED TO GET
THEIR FRIENDSHIP BACK ON TRACK,

DEQUAN AGREES.

AND ALEX WAS LIKE,
"WELL, I GOT SOME ON ME,

"YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T WANT
TO BE IN FRONT OF THE APARTMENT,

"'CAUSE I DON'T WANT
ANYBODY TO SEE US.

I DON'T WANT
TO GET IN ANY TROUBLE."

DEQUAN WAS LIKE,
"ALL RIGHT, COOL.

LET'S GO TO THE BACK."

Narrator:
THE TWO YOUNG MEN HEAD TOWARDS
THE BACK OF THE BUILDING,

BUT NOTHING GOES AS PLANNED.

'CAUSE THEY WERE FRIENDS,
AND THEY WERE REALLY CLOSE,

I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED
ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING.

IT WAS REALLY SHOCKING.

Narrator: ALEX SHOWS UP
AT HIS BEST FRIEND'S HOUSE

AND CLAIMS
HE WANTS TO MAKE AMENDS.

AS A PEACE OFFERING,

HE INVITES DEQUAN TO THE BACK
OF THE BUILDING TO GET HIGH.

'QUAN WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT,
COOL. LET'S GO TO THE BACK."

Narrator:
BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO DEQUAN,

ALEX HAS
AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AGENDA.

ALEX DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO COPE.
IT WAS EATING AWAY AT HIM.

ALEX JUST COULDN'T
GET BEYOND THAT BURGLARY.

Narrator: AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY
TO THE BACK OF THE BUILDING,

SOMETHING SHOCKING OCCURS.

INSTEAD OF
TAKING DRUGS OUT OF HIS POCKET,

ALEX SUDDENLY PULLS OUT A GUN.

I DON'T THINK
'QUAN EVEN SAW THE GUN.

I DON'T EVEN THINK 'QUAN HAD
TIME TO REACT TO SEEING A GUN.

Narrator:
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ALEX FIRES.

HE SHOT HIM TWICE,
EXECUTION STYLE.

Narrator: NEIGHBORS HEAR
THE GUNSHOTS AND CALL 911.

Dispatcher:
911, WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?

Man: I HEARD TWO GUNSHOTS
OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT.

I LOOKED,
AND I SAW THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN

LAYING OUT AT THE SIDE
OF MY APARTMENT.

DID YOU SEE
WHO FIRED THE SHOT?

NO, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: PARAMEDICS ARRIVE
AND RUSH DEQUAN TO THE HOSPITAL.

ONCE THERE, THEY IMMEDIATELY
CALL HIS FATHER.

HE SAYS, "SOMEBODY SHOT DEQUAN."

HE SAID,
"MAN, HE GOT SHOT IN THE HEAD."

AND THAT'S WHEN
I KIND OF LOST IT.

YOU KNOW,
I WAS PRETTY HYSTERICAL.

AND I JUST REMEMBER
MY DAD CRYING.

IT WAS HARD FOR HIM TO SAY IT.

HE TOLD ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED,
AND WE FLEW TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND FOUGHT
TILL EARLY THAT MORNING.

WHEN THEY TOOK HIM
OFF OF LIFE SUPPORT,

HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO.

Narrator: EIGHT HOURS LATER,

DEQUAN LOSES HIS STRUGGLE
TO SURVIVE AND DIES.

MEANWHILE,
A DISHEVELED AND FRANTIC ALEX

ARRIVES BACK HOME.

Day: I JUST REMEMBER
ALEX COMING IN SHIRTLESS,

PANTING 'CAUSE HE RAN
ALL THE WAY BACK HOME.

Narrator:
BUT HE'S EVEN MORE STUNNED

WHEN ALEX
MAKES A HORRIFYING CONFESSION.

Day: HE JUST SAT DOWN AND SAID,
"DUDE, I DID SOMETHING STUPID."

HE TOLD ME HE KILLED HIM.

"KILLED HIM."
THAT'S ALL HE KEPT SAYING.

I SHOT HIM.

HE JUST SAID HE PULLED
THE GUN OUT AND SHOT HIM.

I DON'T THINK
HE WAS THINKING WHEN HE DID IT.

HE WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE,

WHICH IS NEVER AN EXCUSE,
BUT HE WAS.

HE WASN'T COMPLETELY HIMSELF.
HE JUST LOOKED CRAZY.

I DON'T THINK
ANYBODY EVER DISPUTED THE FACT

THAT THE SUICIDE OF HIS BROTHER
HAD AFFECTED HIS MENTAL HEALTH.

Day:
THE BUILD UP OF EVERYTHING --

I JUST THINK
IT GOT TO BE TOO MUCH FOR HIM

AND HE LOST CONTROL.

I REALLY THOUGHT
THAT ALEX FORGAVE HIM.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH
AN INVESTIGATION.

THEY START
BY QUESTIONING NEIGHBORS

WHO TELL POLICE THEY SAW ALEX
OUTSIDE DEQUAN'S HOME

JUST BEFORE THE MURDER.

Day: SOMEHOW, WORD TRAVELED
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY KNEW ALEX AND 'QUAN
HAD A BEEF,

AND SO THEY IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT
IT WAS ALEX RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,
19-YEAR-OLD ALEX COVER

IS ARRESTED
AND CHARGED WITH THE MURDER

OF HIS ONE-TIME BEST FRIEND,
DEQUAN CARTER.

A YEAR AFTER THE MURDER,

ALEX PLEADS GUILTY
TO KILLING HIS FRIEND.

CHARGED WITH
INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER,

HE IS ORDERED
TO UNDERGO TREATMENT

FOR POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER

DUE TO HIS BROTHER'S SUICIDE.

HE IS SENTENCED
TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON.

AND HE JUST KEPT SAYING SORRY
FOR WHAT HE DID AND WAS SAD --

JUST KIND OF TEARING UP.

IT FINALLY HIT HIM.

I GO, "OH, BOY."

"HE'S GOING TO JAIL
FOR A LONG TIME."

Narrator:
ALEX APOLOGIZES IN COURT

FOR ENDING THE LIFE
OF HIS FRIEND

WHO WAS ONCE
AS CLOSE AS HIS OWN BROTHER.

I JUST WANT TO SAY
I'M SORRY FOR WHAT I DID.

I REGRET IT VERY, VERY MUCH.

Narrator: ALEX'S MOTHER, NANCI,
ALSO MAKES A HEARTFELT STATEMENT

TO DEQUAN'S FAMILY
IN THE COURTROOM.

[ Crying ] I'M TERRIBLY SORRY
FOR YOUR LOSS.

ALEX AND 'QUAN
WERE BEST FRIENDS.

'QUAN SPENT HUNDREDS OF NIGHTS
AT MY HOUSE.

HE WAS A SWEET KID.

Narrator: BUT THE APOLOGIES
CAN'T BRING DEQUAN BACK

OR EASE THE PAIN OF
SO MANY AFFECTED BY THE TRAGEDY.

HE DESTROYED TWO FAMILIES,

BECAUSE HE DESTROYED OUR FAMILY
BY TAKING DEQUAN,

BUT HE ALSO DESTROYED
HIS FAMILY,

'CAUSE NOW HIS MOTHER HAS A SON

THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM HER
AND INCARCERATED NOW.

William Jr.: WHEN I JUST THINK
ABOUT 'QUAN, I JUST --

IT'S LIKE A PIECE OF MY LIFE
IS MISSING.

IT WAS A BOND BETWEEN ME,
DEQUAN, AND MY DAD

THAT I WILL NEVER HAVE
WITH NOBODY ELSE EVER.

AND I JUST CAN'T GET THAT BACK.

Narrator: IT'S STILL A STRUGGLE
FOR DEQUAN'S FAMILY

TO UNDERSTAND
HOW THEIR SON'S BEST FRIEND

COULD HAVE TURNED ON HIM
SO VIOLENTLY.

William Sr.:
BECAUSE THEY WERE FRIENDS,
AND THEY WERE REALLY CLOSE,

I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED
ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING.

William Jr.: DEQUAN REALLY
BELIEVED IN HIS HEART LIKE,

"YEAH, THAT'S MY FRIEND."

ALEX WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE LAST PERSON

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT
TO KILL MY BROTHER.