Luke LaManna

Fred beamed as he looked the papers over, filled in a few blanks and signed the bottom. Jeff promised to file the paperwork right away. They gave each other a nod and said, power to the people. It was the last time Jeff would see Fred Hampton alive.

The next evening, Deborah gripped the armrest in Bill O'Neill's car as he sped through Chicago's West Side, driving her home from Fred's mother's house. Bill usually drove like he was in the Grand Prix, and Deborah was doing her best not to get carsick. When they finally pulled up to their apartment, the lights were on.

The next evening, Deborah gripped the armrest in Bill O'Neill's car as he sped through Chicago's West Side, driving her home from Fred's mother's house. Bill usually drove like he was in the Grand Prix, and Deborah was doing her best not to get carsick. When they finally pulled up to their apartment, the lights were on.

Through a gap in the curtains, she could see Fred and a few other Panthers sitting in the living room. Deborah wondered if they were planning for when Fred went back to jail. A few days ago, they learned that the state Supreme Court had upheld Fred's prison sentence for stealing $71 of ice cream. Next week, he would have to surrender himself to prison, where he would serve two to five years.

Through a gap in the curtains, she could see Fred and a few other Panthers sitting in the living room. Deborah wondered if they were planning for when Fred went back to jail. A few days ago, they learned that the state Supreme Court had upheld Fred's prison sentence for stealing $71 of ice cream. Next week, he would have to surrender himself to prison, where he would serve two to five years.

Deborah was furious and heartbroken at the same time. And to make it worse, the police had been tailing them more than ever since the sentencing, probably to make sure Fred didn't try to run or go into hiding. Deborah guessed Fred was lecturing some new students. It was more important than ever to leave the Panthers in the strongest shape possible before he had to go to jail.

Deborah was furious and heartbroken at the same time. And to make it worse, the police had been tailing them more than ever since the sentencing, probably to make sure Fred didn't try to run or go into hiding. Deborah guessed Fred was lecturing some new students. It was more important than ever to leave the Panthers in the strongest shape possible before he had to go to jail.

Deborah knew the meeting would run late. She told Bill he might as well come inside with her and listen in on the lecture. She joked that he could use a refresher anyway, since he skipped so many of them. He was a man of action. He wasn't as hot on the education part. Bill followed Debra into the apartment. He went straight to the kitchen and started rooting around in the fridge.

Deborah knew the meeting would run late. She told Bill he might as well come inside with her and listen in on the lecture. She joked that he could use a refresher anyway, since he skipped so many of them. He was a man of action. He wasn't as hot on the education part. Bill followed Debra into the apartment. He went straight to the kitchen and started rooting around in the fridge.

Debra went to the living room to join Fred, who helped her down onto the couch. She was nine months pregnant now and moved slowly. Fred asked if they were tailed on the way over, but she shook her head no. She didn't think so. Fred was still sleeping at different places every night to keep his schedule unpredictable.

Debra went to the living room to join Fred, who helped her down onto the couch. She was nine months pregnant now and moved slowly. Fred asked if they were tailed on the way over, but she shook her head no. She didn't think so. Fred was still sleeping at different places every night to keep his schedule unpredictable.

He and Deborah were supposed to stay at Fred's mother's house tonight, but Fred changed his mind and said he decided to stay with Deborah at their apartment instead. He wanted them to be alone together while he still could. Deborah was too tired to join in the conversation, so she just listened.

He and Deborah were supposed to stay at Fred's mother's house tonight, but Fred changed his mind and said he decided to stay with Deborah at their apartment instead. He wanted them to be alone together while he still could. Deborah was too tired to join in the conversation, so she just listened.

A few minutes later, Bill came out with a few beers for everyone, and a Kool-Aid for Fred, who never drank alcohol. He couldn't afford to have his mind clouded for even a minute. The group drank and talked, and soon Deborah was yawning. Fred noticed, because after a few minutes, he suggested they go to bed. Upstairs, Deborah called Fred's mother to let her know they weren't coming tonight.

A few minutes later, Bill came out with a few beers for everyone, and a Kool-Aid for Fred, who never drank alcohol. He couldn't afford to have his mind clouded for even a minute. The group drank and talked, and soon Deborah was yawning. Fred noticed, because after a few minutes, he suggested they go to bed. Upstairs, Deborah called Fred's mother to let her know they weren't coming tonight.

Then she handed the phone to Fred while she got ready for bed. As Fred listened to his mom, he was already looking drowsy. Deborah smiled to herself as she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. By the time she got back to their bedroom, Fred was fast asleep, the phone still in his hand. This was typical of Fred. He ran himself ragged every day and fell asleep the minute his head hit the pillow.

Then she handed the phone to Fred while she got ready for bed. As Fred listened to his mom, he was already looking drowsy. Deborah smiled to herself as she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. By the time she got back to their bedroom, Fred was fast asleep, the phone still in his hand. This was typical of Fred. He ran himself ragged every day and fell asleep the minute his head hit the pillow.

But tonight, he'd seemed especially tired. Deborah figured it was the prison sentence looming over him. She hung up the phone and climbed into bed next to him, thinking about how this was one of the last nights they would get to sleep like this. A few hours later, bullets flew as Deborah crouched over Fred, shaking him, begging him to wake up.

But tonight, he'd seemed especially tired. Deborah figured it was the prison sentence looming over him. She hung up the phone and climbed into bed next to him, thinking about how this was one of the last nights they would get to sleep like this. A few hours later, bullets flew as Deborah crouched over Fred, shaking him, begging him to wake up.

Someone began shouting out the window to stop shooting that there was a pregnant woman in the house. And for a moment, the gunfire ceased. Then two cops came into the room and lifted Deborah off the bed. She looked over her shoulder. The last thing she saw was Fred flat on his back, still asleep. One of the Panthers tried shaking him, but he was limp and unresponsive.