Listen to me. You have orange for arrest for attempted homicide, carjacking, and fleeing eluding. What? Right now, it's attempted homicide, and if she dies, she'll be charged with murder. This is 17-year-old Chaquel Mlan. One week ago, he left a woman for dead and has just realized that she survived. Now, he will do anything he can to escape his crimes. You put a lady in the hospital. Every single time you opened your mouth and started talking to me, you lied. I'm scared. But very soon, he will be forced to reveal the truth. One that goes much deeper than anyone could have thought. What I need you to do is tell me what happened. Just I'm scared to tell you all the truth because that's all it is. I don't want to die. At 9:30 p.m. on November 4th, 2021, officers in Tallahassee, Florida, responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at Sam's Club on Dick Wilson Boulevard. Upon arrival, they discovered a 70-year-old woman who had been brutally beaten with a large tree branch. She worked at Sam's Club and had sustained severe head trauma and multiple brain bleeds. Fortunately, she was rushed to the ER and survived her injuries. From here on out, a desperate hunt for the asalent began. When investigators reviewed the surveillance footage from Sam's Club, they discovered that the cameras facing the scene of the attack had stopped working at the time of the incident. However, other cameras did capture a 2009 Jeep Compass leaving the parking lot at 8:11 p.m. It would take detectives 3 days before they got their next lead. On November 7th, an officer spotted the vehicle and tried to pull it over. At that point, the driver sped away before ditching the vehicle at 220 Blackhorn Trail. But the car wasn't the only thing left behind. Detectives also found two passengers who had bailed out. According to their statements, they were riding with a man named Aaron Carter and a teenage boy they only knew as Kels, who was driving all three of them to the North Florida Fair in Tallahassee in the car he claimed was stolen. Eventually, detectives tracked Aaron down, who also worked at Sam's Club, and began digging deep into the identity of Kels. Before long, they learned that Kels was Chaquel Mlan, a 17-year-old who knew Aaron from the Second Chance program and a group home in Panama City. Chaquel already had a violent record, including assaulting a police officer and had only arrived in Tallahassee a month before in October of 2021. as he shot towards the top of the suspect list. Chaquel was arrested on November 10th, almost one week after the robbery and brought in for questioning. The following footage has been provided to us by the Tallahassee Police Department, Florida. So, right now you're you're under arrest. Okay. So, um you're in custody and you're here at the Tallahassee Police Department. So, before I can talk to you and ask you questions and you ask me questions and all that stuff, I got to read your rights. As detectives read Shaquel, his Miranda writes, "It's important to note that Chaquel was originally from Georgia. So, what was a 17-year-old doing in Tallahassee without a parent or guardian?" So, okay. Where's mama? Mom gave me away at 2 years old. At 3 years old, too. To who? Well, she gave me away to the state. Like does she put you up for adoption or? Well, it's somehow type of way how it went through the court system where she gave up her rights which she gave me to one of her co-workers, but the lady who raised me passed away. Okay. When was that? That was a long time. Okay. Well, I wouldn't say not long long, but if I guess you can look at it if something happened to you and you were dead or in the hospital, ain't nobody gonna care. But who who are we going to call? Well, he's not Brenda's not your brother. Like, do you have family members? Like a real aunt and uncle. Listen, I'm going be real with you, boss. My mom, I don't know who my daddy is. My mom, like I told you, she gave me away at 2 years old. I'm here. I'm working, sir. I'm off today. I'm currently working. Where you work at? I work at Taco Bell. Which one? Um, back that way close to where I stay. So, the one down there at on South Monroe in Orange cuz my paperwork's supposed to be getting transferred to here. Paperwork from where? From a Taco Bell transfer from where? From Georgia. From Georgia. Yes, sir. I had to call and see if they can do a transfer, if that makes sense. When did you when did you get into town? Um, I got into town I think a couple of days ago. Couple of days ago. Yes, sir. So, today is Wednesday, November 10th. Wednesday, November 10th. I left. Okay, so here's how it goes. I came. So, Wednesday, November 10th to 11, I came here and I went to the fair. I don't know. I got a ride and I went to the fair, I think two or three days ago. Okay. That's when that's when I was at the fair. That's when I came down here was at cuz I went to the fair and was visiting and stuff. Then I left again, but then I came back. So, you got into town the same day you went to the fair? Mhm. Okay. I went to the fair possibly, if I'm not mistaken, around 8:35 or so at night before the You don't know what day it was to be? I think three or two days ago. Two or three days. So, today's Wednesday. So, Monday, Sunday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Which one of those days was it? Uh, I'm probably going to go with either It's either between Saturday or Sunday. Saturday or Sunday. Yes, sir. So, you got into town the same day that you went to the fair? Yes, sir. Cuz I wanted to go to the fair, you know. Cool. Um, who'd you go to the fair with? Well, I got a ride with some other people. I didn't know. They were just being friendly and gave me a ride. So, I took it. That was my free ticket for a ride, so I didn't have to walk. This line of questioning regarding the North Florida affair is incredibly important as the strongest piece of evidence detectives have right now are testimonies from Aaron and the two witnesses. Not only do their statements place Chael as the driver, but also as the one who stole the vehicle. Yet, his own story is as absurd as it gets. To put it into perspective, he claims he arrived in Tallahassee on either Saturday or Sunday without anyone accompanying him. And within hours of arriving, he supposedly agreed to go to the fair with three complete strangers in a car that just happened to be stolen. This contradicts Aaron's statements as he clearly told officers that Chaquel had been in Tallahassee since October. But if you thought these lies were bad, it's only the tip of the iceberg as they're about to get a whole lot worse. You're with nobody else. No, sir. Just Do you have any friends up here besides Brandon? Yes, sir. that lives at Laura Lee. So, I got a couple of friends. Do you see any of your friends up here while you're up here? I seen What? At the fair? No. Well, either at the fair or since you've been in town. I've seen since when I went to the fair, I was supposed to relink with my best friend, but she wasn't able to make it. That's who I was originally supposed to meet up with. Who is that? My best friend. Her name is Bri Brianna. Brianna? Yes, sir. But she didn't you didn't meet up with her? No, we were supposed to reconnect, but sadly she didn't see. Who? So, you did you see anybody any other friends while you're in town? No, I just spent the day at the fair by myself lonely. Okay. Um, so what time do you think you got home if you if you left the fair at 11ish? It didn't take me that long. Like right down the road there. And so you went to Brendan's house. Is it Brendan's house? Mhm. Okay. I just spent the night there, boss. Went to Brendan's house and what' you wake up the next morning or? Well, I we hung out. We hung out. Played games. Took my dog for a walk. Okay, cool. You know, so people would do kids. Kids are kids. Teens are things. Okay. So, you got here from Saturday. How did you get from Georgia to Tallahassee on Saturday or Sunday? Greyhound. Greyhound. Yes, sir. Okay. The bought an online ticket. Greyhound. And so you don't know what city you came from on Greyhound. Well, I'm not that good with remembering like you know my city. But you know since was it you buy is the ticket in your name? No sir. Whose name was it in? Well, I'm not eligible. I wasn't eligible. I tried to put a ticket in my name, but I wasn't eligible for it. So, had somebody I paid somebody to get me down here. You paid somebody to buy your ticket? Yes, sir. But it wasn't like that bad. Who' you pay? I paid I just paid I just paid some homeless guy. Hey, give me the ticket. I'll you know. Did you get his name? Um I think his name Wesley maybe. Wesley. Wesley started with a W. But you don't know what city that was in like where you bought where you had him buy you the ticket at? I ain't going to lie, I don't really, like I said, I don't really remember the city like Okay, so prior to Saturday or Sunday, when's the last time you've been in Tallahassee? Like how long ago? I ain't going to lie, this is my first time being back. I haven't been in Tallahassee for a while. So, how long's a while? So, we're Wow. Wow. So, we're November of 21. Have you been in Tallahassee this year at all? 2021? Nope. 2020? Last year? Nope. Okay. You've been in the system a bunch. You've been arrested a bunch of times, right? Yeah. I've been at the place at the wrong time. I mean, ever since you were like 12 years old. Yeah. Um, first charge started was I think Me and my mom probably got into it herself and I guess upstairs neighbor probably wind up calling the police and apparently I probably assaulted an officer but I didn't remember. Yeah. Earlier in the interview, Chaquel mentioned that his mother gave him up to a coworker when he was 2 years old. Now he states that his previous charges were incurred because of an incident with his mother when the two were living together. Unless a 2-year-old child is capable of posing a threat to and assaulting a trained police officer, this is entirely unbelievable. Not only to you and me, but to these detectives as well, who at this point have had enough of these games and decide to give Chael a brutal reality check. We're not Okay, we're not going to keep going down this BS of you lying about stuff. Okay, listen. Okay, listen to me. I have you're under arrest. Okay. You have warrants for your arrest. Okay. Which hold on. Listen to me. Okay. We've been doing this a long time. Okay. I don't We don't just send specialty units to go pick people up when we haven't done an entire investigation and have warrants on somebody. So, this whole BS that we just went through, every single time you opened your mouth and started talking to me, you lied. I'm scared. That's fine if you're scared. No, you are lying to me. You've lied to me since the first thing that Well, the only true stuff that you told me was your name, date of birth, that you were on lower leave, staying with somebody named Brendan, and your social security number. Listen, boss, I don't got Oh, and that you went to the fair on Sunday. Listen, I don't got nothing to hide. I don't know what's going on or why y'all even got me in these handcuffs. That's what I've been asking since the police showed up. Okay. So, I'm trying to figure out because I followed the direction that was given. I didn't do anything wrong. And you saying I'm lying and you saying I'm BS, but I mean, okay, that's that's in your opinion, but in my eyes, it's not my it's not Here's the thing. It's not my opinion. Okay. So, boss, can you please tell me what I'm being arrested for? You're You have warrants for arrest for attempted homicide, carjacking, and fleeing eluding. What? Everything you've just told me. I'm not lying. You are lying. I can back it up for you with what? Listen, I don't have no reason to lie to you. Yes, sir. Because you talking about I'm carjacking. I'm Who would I kill if if even a homicide isn't a killing? I've never like I've never hurt anybody since I've been on this earth. I've never Yeah, I might have got. So, here's the thing. You weren't at the fair by yourself. I wasn't. You weren't at the fair by yourself. I talked to the people who were with you at the fair. How do you think I got your name and know who you are? Boss, listen. I done told you. Listen, the people who you say, I don't know, okay? I don't know who you talking about. All I told you. I told you what I told you. I got a ride to the fair. The people were being nice and generous. I got a ride. I went to the fair. I was supposed to meet my best friend there. Like I told you, Brianna, but that didn't happen. Okay. No, cuz she never showed up. So then why would the people that I talked to Why would they just make up something that you the people that know you and identified you that you were at the fair with them? They dropped me off at the fair. Yeah, they dropped me off at the fair. I went to the fair. Like, I'm not lying. I I went to the fair. What kind of car? What kind of car was it? They I got in a white Jeep. A white Jeep? Yes, sir. I got in a white Jeep. Okay. What's your baby mama's name? Baby mama, her name call, but you can call her Nisha. Nisha? Yeah. You don't know her real name? Nah, that's what she really go by. Nisha. What's her last name? Nisha. Listen, I don't want you to think I'm trying to make up no middle name cuz What's your last name? Listen, I call her bae. So, she uh it's going to be under my Bonnie. But my Bonnie? Yeah. Okay. So, that's what we're going to stick with. This is Well, boss, now can you tell me what's like Well, you just explained it. You said carjacking, a homicide. I said attempted homicide. Attempted homicide. Carjacking. Carjacking and fleeing the looting. Fleeing the looting. But I do want you to understand like boss. I'm not lying to you. I'm So were you were you were in when you were in the car with these people supposedly police ever get behind you or anything? Oh no. Cuz not not on the way to the fair. So, you just went to the fair and then you never saw them again. How else? Cuz the house is right there. I wouldn't need a ride just to walk down the hill. Who was driving the Jeep? Uh, I think I think a black guy was I think a black guy kind of was. I ain't going to lie. I did forget my I did forget my um it's a little it's a little thing for my phone. It's like a little clip on. I did forget that. So, I did go back to the car. He let me use the key to go back to the car and get my little clip on for my phone. Okay. Um, so you have your Wait, so that mean the car is stolen? Yeah. I have my hands all in that car. Look close enough and you'll see a bulb light up over Chaquel's head in real time as he realizes his DNA might be in that car. What follows is one of the most embarrassing attempts to explain why his fingerprints might be found in a stolen car. Did you ever drive that car? Uh, no. No. But I did go on the passenger side though cuz that's the only way you could unlock the car unless you hit the little button. But I just stuck the key in and opened it with my hand. I didn't have, you know, I opened it with my hand, reached in there. I did put my hand on the steering wheel. Yes, sir. I'm not gonna lie. So, if y'all did or didn't, I don't know if y'all did or didn't test the car for fingerprints. I did put my hands on the steering wheel. Yes, sir. I did. I was sitting in the passenger seat. So, my hands Why would you touch the steering wheel if you're in the passenger seat? That's where cuz the way it was the way the person parked on the passenger side, it's too close and you can't open the door as much to get in on the passenger side. So you had to go on the other side because it was more open space to get into the car. So the door wouldn't work or just No, no, no. I'm saying Oh, you're parked to Yeah. The way the person parked next on the passenger side when And that was when that was at when the fair. At the fair. Yes, sir. Okay. And I had to go on the driver's side just to get my stuff. Okay. I put my hand Yeah. On the way there, I was sitting in the passenger seat. I was in the passenger seat. So if my fingerprints show up, yeah, I was in the passenger seat. I put my hands on the outside door. Put my hands on the steering wheel. I had like I had had my hands on the little bar, probably on the AC. I don't put my hands probably on the radio. Whatever else they had a charger in there. I use their charger. Okay, so that's it. I mean, anything else y'all want me to tell you? Like I said, I do apologize. No, that's fine. Hey. Um, so that phone you got you got a you have a passcode on that phone? Yes, sir. Do you mind telling me what it is or I ain't going to lie. I don't really get my password out. It's the only thing I I've never felt comfortable with a lot of people going into my phone, you know, and I got like pictures and stuff in there. So, I'm not going to lie to you. I ain't going I'm not going to sit here and lie to you. I got pictures in my phone. Everybody's got pictures on there. So, and I got a lot of stuff, privacy stuff. Luckily, Chaquel's so-called privacy stuff didn't involve his personal life, but a gold mine of incriminating messages, ones that point to yet another potential suspect. In this exchange between Aaron and Chael, 3 hours before the assault, the two very clearly plan out what to do with a stolen car, what to do with its number plates, and how to hide fingerprints using socks. 3 hours after the car was stolen at 11 p.m. Aaron began to give Chael precise instructions on where to take the car. So, what exactly is Aaron's role here? Is he just a simple accomplice, or does this crime go much, much deeper than detectives initially expected? That is something we will find out later on because right now, Chaquel has another task on his to-do list. Beg, cry, and plead to be given a second chance. All right. Um, well, I don't have any more questions for you. Um, no. Okay. So, what happens now? What's going to happen right now is, um, like I said, you got warrants for your arrest for attempted homicide, carjacking, and fleeing a looting. Um, I'm going to call a patrol officer to come up here. They're going to rehandcuff you and take you out to the juvenile assessment center. So, that mean now? Yeah. Um, I'm keeping your phone. Is there any way I can get an attorney? because I don't I can't have this going. You'll get an attorney. I mean, they'll they'll deal with all that stuff out there and you'll probably end up with a public defender. Um or if you know somebody that can hire you an attorney, they'll get you an attorney. Um so that's what's going to happen right now. Boss, I didn't do this crime. Like I know I understand this is serious, but I'm telling you the truth. I didn't do this crime. Like if this goes on my record as I already got enough as it is on my record. Like please, you got to understand like I'm being so serious, boss. I cannot have that going on my It's already going on there. So, I mean, the only thing I was hoping is you tell me the truth about Hold on, hold on, hold on. That you would tell me the truth about what happened cuz that way I could call the state attorney and be like, "Hey, dude was 100% honest with me. For what it's worth, I believe him. He was honest. He was cooperative. and whatever happens at least you know you can let the judge know that and then go that whole thing. So I do apologize for not but everything like everything else that I told you is true about all right like I really like now oh my god and I got a baby on the way this when's your baby due my baby's going to be due in May I can't I can't b I can't I can't go I got to be in my baby's life well I'm not saying you're not going to be in your baby's life but today you're being arrest you're well you're already arrested But you're being transported out to the juvenile assessment center because I failed. So because I failed to do the thing. I understand. But no, no, no. You're being arrested because you had probable cause to charge you with these crimes. Yeah. I got warrants for you this morning before they spoke to you. That's why people came and found you. Yes, sir. And I understand that. But I'm I'm saying I'm not going to be able to get no type of job with that being on my record. I can't help you with that. So, so work with either get you a lawyer if you can or work with your or work with your public defender that you're going to get appointed, okay? And do what's best for you and work through the process, okay? But things have already gotten to the point where we can't go back and undo them, okay? Probable cause is what it is and that's why that's what ended up having you here today right now. So you're you're already arrested. The charges already there. I should have never What happens from here depends on you and your lawyer. You know what? It's okay. I understand. It's my fault. I should have never asked for no ride. I should have just none of this would have never happened if I never asked for. All right. I'll try to get somebody up here as soon as possible. So that way you don't got to sit here and we'll get you out there. All right. I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry. This [ __ ] happening all over again, bro. It's happening all over again. I don't do [ __ ] wrong. Always getting caught up in the wrong situation. Hate myself. [ __ ] This this [ __ ] don't make no sense, bro. Excuse me. Is anybody outside? Hey, I'm sorry about it, but if it's possible that I could just at least call my baby mama and let her know what's going on. You might be able to at the general assessment center at least cuz just in case if they really don't let me, you know, at least when I call my baby mama, let her know what's going on. Um, I mean, you have I can call her, give her phone number, but I don't have her phone number. I don't have her phone. I don't remember her phone number like that. That's why I was asking. That's why I'm saying if you could at least I call her off my phone or something. I don't care. Like, I just really need to let her know that what's going on because we got a baby and I'm going to get arrested for something I ain't do, boss. And I'm like being so serious because it's like if this goes on my record, I'm not going to be able to get no job. When people see this, when I become an adult and people look at my record and run me as a background, they're not going to want to hire me. I'm not going to be able to be a doctor. I'm not going to be able to go to college because then everything I just did, everything I've done is now it's going to go to waste because I'm telling you, I didn't commit this crime. Let's just say Chaquel's not exactly on track to become a doctor anytime soon, considering he just spent almost an hour and a half lying to cops. But after this first round of questioning, he is clearly shaken up and desperate to get away. He knows that his lies aren't working anymore and very soon will begin to crack. I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot before. Okay, listen. Came like I told you, I came from Panama City. Came from Panama City to the Greyhound. I paid got somebody to get my ticket for a Greyhound. Came here. I was visiting. I was trying to find an apartment in the house. So my birthday is in like 3 months. Two. Yeah. January. Yeah. Two months. Would turn 18. Looking for an apartment. I got a baby on the way. My baby's doing May. I get I get all that. What day did you get here? uh between Sat cuz the same day I went to the fair. You didn't get here Saturday or Sunday. So I've been here longer than that basically. Well, I mean Well, when would you say I got here? At least a week. Like at least a week prior to the day you went to the fair. Prior to the week I went to the fair. Did anything happen before that week? Before that week? Yes, sir. I don't know where you were prior to coming here cuz I'm saying like I need like boss I ain't steal no car. I didn't harm anyone at all. I didn't know the car was stolen at all. You put a lady in the hospital, boss. I didn't hurt no lady. You did? I promise you I didn't hurt no lady. What lady? The lady whose car you stole? I didn't steal the car. That's what I did steal the car. How? How? Boss, I'm telling you. You beat the hell out of a lady and you stole her car. That's what happened. I didn't put my hand. I'm being honest with you, boss. Do you understand how DNA works? I didn't put my hand. Do you understand? You know what DNA is? DNA? Yeah. That's uh that's something to do with touch or Yeah. We all have We all have a specific DNA that only comes back to us. Each person has a separate DNA. Okay. Okay. So when you touch things when in your saliva like everything is is your DNA. Yes sir. Okay. So that's when you touch stuff your DNA transfers from you to objects to people. So I mean I'm not going to lie. Yeah. I did have my I was in the car. I know you were in the car. Yeah, but I And I also know that you beat the hell out of a lady and sent her to the hospital. Boss, I've never put my hands on no females is what I'm trying to tell you. You got to believe me. Like, please, boss. I understand. I don't believe you, though. I know cuz you haven't said anything to refute or argue against the evidence that I have. Well, proven that you did this. Well, I mean, if that's the case, I who who do I need to get you to tell you what time I got home, what time I where I was, or where did I go? Well, because I already have all that information. But I'm telling you like whatever information you got. Okay. Yeah, I was in the car. I know that. I was in the car, but I didn't steal no car. I would never I've never hit no female. You did steal the car. You're not going to get a job, dude. I just wanted to graduate. Like, you might get a job 20, 30 years from now. That's fine. Maybe, but you your record and trying to get a job and whatever. Like, you need to worry about the now and not down the road. I I understand. That's why I'm like, I don't want this to go on my It is. So, you might as well stop saying, "I don't want it to go on my record." Cuz it already is. And you're being arrested and you'll have your day in court. But all you're doing is lying about stuff right now, which I already have the proof and evidence that you're lying about everything. Okay, boss. So, if you say I cuz I know like if you ask, you're supposed to be showing. So, if you have the proof, can I see it? You'll see it in court. I don't have to show it to you right now. I mean, because I have to show you anything right now at all. Why are you getting so hostile? I'm not getting hostile with you. I'm just telling you the fact like you trying to put your foot down on something like that don't make no sense. I'm asking a simple question. You don't got to come at me on no type of I'm not trying to come at you. I have evidence, but I do not have to show that to you right now at all. If there's any way that I got to prove that I'm not guilty, I'mma find that way. If I got to bring so much people in just to tell you where I was, fine. It'll have to be and that'll be your option in court because I'm You don't believe me, which is fine. That's that's okay. But one thing I know is not this cannot go on my record because I'm already knowing. I just seen a lot of cop shows. I seen a lot of this and I'm telling you the truth. You not believe me and that's fine. You say this isn't a show. This is real life. And I understand. Okay. But I'm understanding that. But at the same time, I got to let you know like like this isn't a show. This isn't a movie that you pay money to to go see or watch on TV. There is a real life individual who has a family and has kids who's in the hospital and might or might not make it. I'm not able to prove myself as innocent. cuz you haven't given me anything to argue against the evidence that I have against you like at all. Okay, but I can prove that if I if I give you names to say where I was, wouldn't that be able to prove that? Okay, I wasn't there. Cuz your homeboy is going to be like, "Yeah, he was here." What does that prove? I'm not lying to you because I actually after after I left the fair, I didn't go nowhere with them. I went straight home. Straight home is where I didn't go straight home. I did? Yes, you didn't go straight home. I know for a fact you didn't go straight home. So, where did I go, boss? Tell me. Where did I go? You were in a stolen car. You wound up on the south side of town. You're running from the cops. He ain't running from nobody. Y'all came to his house and got me. And like I told And like I told him, I said, "I don't know what I'm being arrested for. I don't know what's going on. I'm sitting here. You asked the questions. I told you what it was and I'm being honest and you're not believing me. You still feel like I'm lying cuz I'm not. No, I don't feel like you're lying. You know, well, you say you're lying. You say I know for a fact you're lying. But I'm telling you, your theory is wrong. Okay. I don't know what else to do. Like, okay, if you know what? I can see it's not going to go anywhere. It's fine. You know what? I'm innocent. I don't regardless. I understand. I got to go to court. I'm Can you just go on here and just tell me if that's the case if I'm not going to be able to prove myself in saying how many I mean, give me a reason. Give me Give me something saying besides I didn't do it. I mean, so you know, this lady, you're talking the difference between attempted homicide and homicide. She ends up dying. You know, there's different levels. Like if you if you did something and didn't mean to and it was an accident, then that's different. Then that weighs differently. But you're not even, you know, if you if you didn't mean to do something, but it just happened, then be honest about it. If you didn't mean to hurt somebody was and you got scared and you and you didn't know what to do and you drove off, then then you know, tell me what happened. The detective just handed Chael a lifeline. And whether he uses it to come clean or to twist the truth even further is entirely up to him. But what Chaquel actually reveals is far more complex than what anyone imagined and may even explain Aaron's involvement in this crime. If I tell you who the truth, can I please be protected? If you're scared of somebody, then I will let them know and they'll have to look at that. But I can't promise you or tell you anything. What I need you to do is tell me what happened. Just I'm scared to tell y'all the truth because that's all it is. I don't want to die. Here's the thing. Right now, you're in police custody and you're going to jail. So, nobody can get to you. Yeah. Still, if they find out that I said something, regardless if it's not me, it's going to be somebody else. I can't I can't do whatifs and like this and that. So, you either want to tell me what's going on. I'm telling you, but I want to be guaranteed. I can't guarantee you anything at all. I don't have that ability. All I can do is take what you give me and talk to the state attorney's office and they talk to judges and they deal with stuff like that. I can't promise you anything. I can't guarantee you anything. All I can do is pass along information. Is there somebody I could talk to for my safety? I just want to make sure I Not right here. I was threatened. You were threatened to do what? If I didn't do it, they was going to find my baby mom and they was going to hurt her. Who threatened you? Let's get back. Okay, let's think about that. If you didn't do what they were going to hurt you. If I didn't do what they told me. And what did they tell you to do? You wanted me to? I just don't want to get my baby mama hurt. I'm just scared. I don't want her to be hurt. What did they threaten you to do? Or what did they tell you to do to threaten whoever? He told me if I didn't do it that or if I did open my mouth and say something that they either killed me or my baby mama. And I felt like I didn't have a choice. I didn't want to I was told not to call the police. I didn't want to do it. Didn't want to do what? I didn't want to take that car. You didn't want to take that car? Okay. So, tell me. So, they threatened you, but you did. So, tell me what you did. After they posted the threat, they gave me a certain time I had to be there and I was being watched. It was a guy that works there. He was watching me. People with the wooded areas were watching me from there. and I was scared. Tragically, both the National Gang Center and the Department of Justice acknowledge the fact that gangs can potentially coers minors into criminal roles. This is because they are prime real estate to carry out crimes. They have legal leniency as juveniles get lighter sentences and more often than not, the targets for these recruitments belong to unstable homes. Much like Chaquel, gangs exploit this vulnerability and the longing to belong, be protected, or be feared. However, given the number of lies Chaquel has told throughout this interview, it's difficult to determine whether this is the truth or just another exaggerated story. The only way detectives can know for sure is by digging deeper and seeing whether his details remain consistent. What did they want you to do to her? Well, the first plan they wanted me to do was to knock her out, put her in the car, take the car to a certain location and leave it there with her in the car. But plans had changed where they told me to just take her car. I don't know what they were going to do to her or anything, but Okay. So, how did you get how did you get to Sam's? I walked from I walked from it's like a little roundabout. Um it's like it's a circle in the middle. just pass the circle and on right side on the right side it's some type I think it's some type of veterans veterans um veterans veterans it's some type of veterans place it got the word veterans hospital I think so it's on the logo is blue okay so you walked past there I was that's the way I was coming from like to go to Sam's club. Okay. It's a road right over there. It's a road before you even hit like that little um roundabout and before you get to there. The only roundabout I know about down at that's the one in the middle Russell and like Orange Avenue before you get to that veteran's place. Okay. Right there you come. So, if I'm saying if I'm coming from the road that I'm heading on this way, that mean the veterans will still be on my right and the roundabout is right in front of me. So, I just take that right which goes all the way past the veterans. Okay. So, so you walk to Sam's. They gave me the clothes that I needed to put on. They gave you clothes that you need to put on, which was what? They gave me a hoodie, mask, and some socks. Socks for what? To cover my hands. But okay. I didn't. What color were the socks? Socks are white. There's white socks and those black socks. Black socks. like long socks, short socks, really really long socks. Not over the ankle. Like they're like like kind of like what you're wearing. Okay. When officers went through the car, they did find a pair of black socks. And the text messages also show that Chaquel was using socks to cover his prints. So this at the very least checks out. So, you wound up at Sam's. Was it Was the sun out? Was it dark? Well, when I left, I was trying to make it there before 9:00. Okay. Because, like I said, I didn't want them to come looking for me, and I didn't want them to hurt my baby mama. After that, they gave me the clothes. I changed into the clothes in the back. It was over there in a certain apartment area. It was like a little cover up. I changed there and that's when they gave me they broke they broke a stick off the thing. They broke a stick off of what? Off a branch. Okay. And I took the stick, but I didn't put on my socks. I didn't want to hurt that lady, but I didn't have a choice. Okay. I didn't want to die, and I don't want my baby mama to die. M okay. I feel like we'll get back to that. So let's let's stick with the incident. So at first So they so you had a stick from some the person gave it to me. At first at first I didn't want to do it but one guy hit me in my face and I was kind of scared. Okay. So let's We'll backtrack to that. So, what So, you had the stick. What happened after you had the stick? After I had the stick, I guess I don't know. It was just certain way where I took it towards the end and I just kind of hit the lady like right here. Okay. Guessing. I know I hit her. So, you hit her with the stick. How many times did you hit her with it? I want to say twice. Twice. And what did she do? She fell and I didn't put her in the car like I was supposed to. This statement from Chael brings the interrogation to a crossroads. On the one hand, Chaquel claims he was ordered to kidnap the victim. So, if he failed at the one thing he was appointed to do, why exactly did the other gang members not come after him or his girlfriend? Is this another lie? On the other hand, however, if this is true, who were these people? And why target a 70-year-old woman? With two conflicting possibilities, it's now up to the detective to figure out which one is the truth. Who are these people that threatened you? I really don't know him like that. I'm not going to lie to you, boss. So, you don't know them? I don't know them like So why did they if you don't know them? How was that? And they picked you to go attack some lady over some beef that real quick before before you sum everything up. I used to hang I used to hang with this one person this one person that did know them. You know, I didn't like I was always a follower. But what I meant by me being a follower, okay, the people, so like let's say you hang around a couple, right? But you're with you're with your a guy friend, homeboy, whatever, whatever you call them, your buddy, you know, and you introduce him to that people the people. Okay. Then after that, you know, you So who is that person? First name. His name is Hunter. Who is it? Hunter. Hunter. Okay. So, you've known how long have you known Hunter? We used to go to Gas. Not Gas, but Well, I went to Gasi. He went to second chance. Second chance. At least that's what he told me. I never seen him at second. Hunter. Were you hanging out with Hunter while you're in town? I hung out with him. Like a couple of them. See? While you're in town. So then all of a sudden we got we went it was some type of party we went to. Yeah. We were drinking. We were smoking. And I use I I don't drink nor smoke, but I was how would you say kind of forced or persuaded. I didn't want to at first, but after I was kind of accounting, I felt like I was being forced to drink. So then I had probably about five shots in. And what day was this? The day it was like after the third week, the third the third day of me being here. Why did they pick you? My buddy who I was hanging with knew who who So Hunter knew these people that you don't know that wanted you to attack this lady. Hunter was on the run. He's on the run now. Hunter's on the run for what? I think he said he got worn out for his rush for a um what's it called? It's like it's like I think it's called assault with a deadly weapon or something. Okay. Uh I don't know here locally. I don't know if it's I don't know here. All I know is he told me you got a warrant. He told me what it was for. Okay. I start with a deadly weapon against somebody. Um, after that, after I left, I was I was like I was very drunk, tipsy. I don't even remember how I even got home. I woke up. The only thing I know I woke up on somebody's porch. I don't know who porch it was. Warehouse. All I know is I walked on somebody's porch. I had a worse migraine. They took me to a party after that. After we left the party, went to some type of abandoned house. That's where they were like, "You're" That's when like Hunter Hunter started explaining stuff. He was like, "Yeah, there's something going on between nephew or something like where he got into a fight where they've been having in and out beef situations and stuff." And the main thing that was said was Hunter said he wanted to kidnap the lady. The Connor did or the friends? Hunter. Hunter wanted to kidnap the lady. As to me in my image, it's like Hunter is the big boss. Okay. As he runs everything else. So he So he said that the lady's nephew something happened between the nephew and Hunter or somebody else. Him and Hunter. Whatever Hunter says goes. So let's say if Hunter says if Hunter says something to make a move or whatever, they follow. Okay. So Hunter approached you and said I'm like I've you know known him for a little bit. I haven't you know when I came here I of course I love going to parties but I don't drink or stuff. I just like going to have fun. So he told you that he wanted you to kidnap her, put her in a car and go where? Well, that was the part. But where where did he want you to take her? At first I was supposed to take her to that abandoned house. It was an abandoned house. Um did he send you an address or something so you knew where to go? cuz I mean you're not really from here so you really wouldn't know how to get from it's somewhere on close by Putinham drive or punham something is punham something instead of abandoned house okay is plum something and I was supposed to didn't go there but I got nervous okay and I didn't wind up putting her in the car and these individuals had the perfect guarantee against Chael if he failed to comply with their demands but how would they threaten and your baby mama. How do they How do they even know who she is or where she is or I thought I could trust Hunter, you know, like I said, I did hung out with him a couple of times. Okay. Yeah, I did need somebody else because to talk to and hang out with, you know. Okay. I didn't like being a homebody if that makes sense. No, it's fine. So So you told him that you had a Yeah, cuz he was like we was like, you know how people do. He was talking about his girl. So I started talking my minds and okay you know he was like man sometimes she be Aggie sometimes like he just but where and so but where I forgot I don't I didn't bring my name back here her name was what was her name I wrote it down who your baby mama Nisha Nisha I was about to say Kha but Nisha um she don't know anything about this no it's fine so but and where so but where honestly where is Nisha at for the next several minutes, Chaquel changes his story yet again. This time claiming he wasn't headed to the fair, but was actually going to carry out a drug deal. As usual, he had no details about the people involved and offered only a single name, Hunter. He couldn't provide an address, a phone number, or any information beyond that one name. Regardless of the truth, it does not change the fact that Chael was still involved in a crime. Consequently, detectives returned nearly an hour later to put him in cuffs. All right, Mr. Mlan, this fine gentleman here is going to take these handcuffs off you. He's going to put a different pair of handcuffs off you and take you over to the juvenile assessment center. Okay. Oh, boss. I'm sorry. It's all right, man. He's just going to put his own handcuffs on you. Okay. Yeah, I just will put my handcuffs on you. Okay. Ultimately, detectives were not able to find any involvement from individuals other than Aaron and Chaquel. Aaron was charged with attempted murder and carjacking in 2024. As for Chael, prosecutors emphasized that there was no coercion involved and Shaquel only attacked the woman so he could have a car. He was eventually found guilty of attempted murder, armed carjacking, and fleeing. Consequently, Chaquel was sentenced to life in prison.