Luke LaManna

The cops still maintained that the Panthers had been the first to shoot at them. But now Jeff had evidence to prove that wasn't true. The day of Fred's murder, one of Jeff's partners had the presence of mind to run over to Fred's house and take video footage. He counted around 90 shots coming into the house from outside where the police were standing.

Only one single bullet came from inside from a Panther gun. Even if the Panthers had fired first, a single bullet didn't warrant 90 in return. To Jeff, it was clear that the cops had instigated the bloodshed. But the real smoking gun was the autopsy report in Jeff's hands. It said that Fred was shot twice at point-blank range. This wasn't the case of a stray bullet. It was an execution.

Only one single bullet came from inside from a Panther gun. Even if the Panthers had fired first, a single bullet didn't warrant 90 in return. To Jeff, it was clear that the cops had instigated the bloodshed. But the real smoking gun was the autopsy report in Jeff's hands. It said that Fred was shot twice at point-blank range. This wasn't the case of a stray bullet. It was an execution.

And most startling of all was the final note left by the coroner. that a large amount of a sleeping pill called secobarbital had been found in Fred's system. Fred didn't use drugs, which meant someone drugged him earlier that night. And based on how careful Fred was, the person who slipped him the drug was likely someone he trusted.

And most startling of all was the final note left by the coroner. that a large amount of a sleeping pill called secobarbital had been found in Fred's system. Fred didn't use drugs, which meant someone drugged him earlier that night. And based on how careful Fred was, the person who slipped him the drug was likely someone he trusted.

On May 8, 1970, six months after Fred's death, Jeff sat in a courtroom with his legal partners. In the row behind them sat Deborah and the other Panthers who'd been arrested during the raid. They'd all been indicted with at least one count of attempted murder, one count of armed violence, and several weapons counts. Jeff was proud to be one of the lawyers representing them.

On May 8, 1970, six months after Fred's death, Jeff sat in a courtroom with his legal partners. In the row behind them sat Deborah and the other Panthers who'd been arrested during the raid. They'd all been indicted with at least one count of attempted murder, one count of armed violence, and several weapons counts. Jeff was proud to be one of the lawyers representing them.

From the get-go, Jeff and his partners knew that if the Panthers wanted to win over a jury, they would have to win over the public first. They encouraged the Panthers to speak to the media to tell their side of the story in the hopes that it would drum up public support and turn the spotlight on Chicago PD. The Panthers didn't hold back. They gave tours of Fred and Deborah's destroyed apartment.

From the get-go, Jeff and his partners knew that if the Panthers wanted to win over a jury, they would have to win over the public first. They encouraged the Panthers to speak to the media to tell their side of the story in the hopes that it would drum up public support and turn the spotlight on Chicago PD. The Panthers didn't hold back. They gave tours of Fred and Deborah's destroyed apartment.

Giant crowds came to see the bloody mattress and bullet-riddled walls for themselves. 5,000 people came to Fred's funeral the week after he was killed. Support swelled for Deborah and her newborn son, Fred Hampton Jr., who was born on December 29th, just 25 days after his father's murder. Someone called Fred's murder a northern lynching, and the phrase caught on.

Giant crowds came to see the bloody mattress and bullet-riddled walls for themselves. 5,000 people came to Fred's funeral the week after he was killed. Support swelled for Deborah and her newborn son, Fred Hampton Jr., who was born on December 29th, just 25 days after his father's murder. Someone called Fred's murder a northern lynching, and the phrase caught on.

now two months later as jeff sat in the courtroom he hoped that their media campaign was enough to keep the panthers out of prison he heard people whispering power to the people around the room as though encouraging one another to keep the faith bill o'neill gave jeff a salute from his place in the audience they were all in this together The judge entered and everyone rose.

now two months later as jeff sat in the courtroom he hoped that their media campaign was enough to keep the panthers out of prison he heard people whispering power to the people around the room as though encouraging one another to keep the faith bill o'neill gave jeff a salute from his place in the audience they were all in this together The judge entered and everyone rose.

Jeff took a deep breath, readying himself for a fight. But instead, the opposing counsel announced that they were dismissing the indictment. Their evidence against the Panthers was insufficient, so they were no longer pressing charges. The case was dropped and the Panthers were free to go. Jeff was shocked. He looked at Deborah, who was too stunned to speak.

Jeff took a deep breath, readying himself for a fight. But instead, the opposing counsel announced that they were dismissing the indictment. Their evidence against the Panthers was insufficient, so they were no longer pressing charges. The case was dropped and the Panthers were free to go. Jeff was shocked. He looked at Deborah, who was too stunned to speak.

For a moment, everyone just stared at one another in disbelief. They had spent months preparing for this trial, building a defense, and readying the Panthers to fight for their lives. And now they were just free to go? For a moment, he wondered if the bad press had been so intense that the prosecution had decided to drop the case.

For a moment, everyone just stared at one another in disbelief. They had spent months preparing for this trial, building a defense, and readying the Panthers to fight for their lives. And now they were just free to go? For a moment, he wondered if the bad press had been so intense that the prosecution had decided to drop the case.

As the news sunk in, Deborah and the others began hugging one another in relief. And that's when Jeff had a brainwave. What if the prosecution had dropped the case because they were hiding something? If the trial were to move forward, the police would have to reveal the names of any informants they were working with.

As the news sunk in, Deborah and the others began hugging one another in relief. And that's when Jeff had a brainwave. What if the prosecution had dropped the case because they were hiding something? If the trial were to move forward, the police would have to reveal the names of any informants they were working with.

Maybe, just maybe, they were dismissing the case because they didn't want to reveal their source. The same source who told them where Fred was going to be that night. Maybe even the same source who had slipped something into his drink. And now that the case was dismissed, Jeff doubted he would ever know the truth.