Page 118

DOI: 25 DECEMBER 1999

[TRANSCRIPT - CONT'D]

[Marr]

Okay, Jay, You ready for this?

[Ruta]

Yes.

[Marr]

So… Let’s just do it.

[Ruta]

I entered the room, and there were three people inside. Two men and a woman. Well, girl.

[Marr]

[papers rustling] Laney Hawton, her brother Cary Hawton, and the girl’s boyfriend, Shane Mathers.

[Ruta]

Yes. The brother, Cary, was who I noticed covered in blood. I had my weapon on him, well, on both of them.

[Marr]

Both men?

[Ruta]

No, the brother and sister.

[Marr]

Were they side by side?

[Ruta]

No. They were… [throat clearing] kissing.

[Marr]

Kissing? Beside a dead body? [shuffling noise] I don’t understand. Was he… was he comforting her? Was she comforting him?

[Ruta]

No.

[Marr]

Jay…

[Ruta]

[breathing] That kiss would have made a porn star blush, Shailene. I couldn’t see the girl at all, just the back of her head. But the brother... Jesus…

[Marr]

Holy Mary Mother of God…

[Ruta]

And that’s when the boyfriend, Shane? Launched at them.

[Marr]

With the intent to harm?

[Ruta]

Without a doubt. You should have seen his face, Shailene. He had that look, you know the one… the one you only ever see once or twice a decade. On the ones that deserve the death penalty.

[Marr]

So he attacked Laney and Cary?

[Ruta]

Cary. It was definitely just for Cary. But I intercepted.

[Marr]

And then what…

[Ruta]

Shane punched me. Hit me like a sack of bricks. Doc says he may have fractured my eye socket. I saw stars, Shailene. Literal stars. And that’s when it happened.

[Marr]

I need you to be specific, for this part, Jay.

[Ruta]

My weapon accidentally discharged.

[Marr]

It was not an intentional discharge? For the record.

[Ruta]

No. Like I said, doc says the guy fractured my face. I stumbled back in surprise, I guess, and squeezed the trigger as I tripped.

[Marr]

Well shit.

[Ruta]

Yeah.

[Marr]

I’m so sorry, Jay.

[Ruta]

I should have just gone home early like Brian. I’m so sorry…

[Marr]

Me too, Jay. Me too.

[Ruta]

Shailene?

[Marr]

Yeah.

[Ruta]

Did he make it?

[Marr]

I’m sorry, Jay. He was pronounced dead on the scene by the second team of paramedics. [unintelligible noise] This interview is over. Carl? Turn the tape off, please.

[end of tape]