A homicide detective in the South Bureau, known for living in the community he served, who becomes personally involved in the investigation following the murder of his son, Bryant.

John Skaggs's partner during his active years in the South Bureau, known for a complementary approach to Skaggs’s, achieving an impressive clearance rate.

Partnered with Wally Tennelle during the "Big Years," Baitx shared a dedication to excellence and lived locally in Los Angeles unlike many colleagues.

Supervisory homicide detective overseeing Skaggs and Barling, known for his passion and covert efforts to clear case backlogs, as well as his loyalty to his team.

A younger detective trained by Skaggs, often seen as his protégé, who initially left homicide due to budget frustrations but returns to work alongside Kouri.

A detective invited to homicide by Marullo, he eventually becomes the senior detective on the team through dedication and hard work.

Assistant district attorney assigned to the Tennelle case, with a personality marked by manic energy but an effective, thorough approach to prosecution.

Wally Tennelle’s youngest son, whose murder is central to the narrative, known for his love of animals and bicycles and his sheltered upbringing.

Bryant Tennelle's neighborhood friends, fond of fixing bikes and spending time together, with varying degrees of street smarts and affiliations.

Convicted in Bryant Tennelle’s shooting, with Davis being the teen who pulled the trigger, and Starks providing the weapon and alleged order.

Starks's girlfriend at the time of the shooting, initially driving the getaway car, whose testimony against Starks and Davis is crucial for the case.

Key witnesses who provided critical information anonymously but were eventually required to testify in pretrial proceedings.

A resident of Watts who becomes a vocal advocate for the South Bureau homicide detectives after her son’s murder was solved, helping foster trust between the community and law enforcement.