Twenty-year-old Adam Abdul Hakeem was the first person in American judicial history to be found innocent by reason of self defense in a police shooting case. This gripping documentary tells the story of Hakeem, ormerly named Larry Davis, who tried to extricate himself from a police-run drug ring in which he had participated for six years. In doing so, it examines the relationships between law enforcement agencies, the criminal justice system, and the African American community.

The police raided Hakeem's apartment without a warrant, claiming he was a suspect in the murders of four drug dealers in the Bronx. Hakeem shot six policemen and escaped. After a controversial trial, he was acquitted on the major charges, but sentenced to 5 to 15 years for illegal possession of a weapon. While in prison, he endured continual beatings, which severely injured his spine and left him paralyzed. While this film does not exonerate Hakeem, it points out an institutionalized form of prejudice and brutality within the criminal justice system.

Postscript: Adam Abdul Hakeem was killed in prison in 2008.

"It would be appropriate for a number of courses such as those dealing with policing and violence and especially introduction to criminal justice. The video is well done, well organized, and definitely will maintain student interest. I highly recommend it." - Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture

Bronze Apple, National Film & Video Festival, 1993