Snap Studios

Snap Studios

Snap Today's episode was crafted with a lot of love. It's a story from right here, from our hometown, our backyard, Oakland, California.

And you may have even seen the headlines because they went international.

And as I discovered personally, if you live here in the Bay, you're likely only a degree or two removed from the people you're going to hear from today.

There might be your neighbors, your friends.

And this episode does contain graphic imagery, strong language, descriptions of violence and death,

and we want you to take care because two families were thrown into extraordinary circumstances for months.

They wrestled with an impossible question.

What do you do when you get the worst news possible?

Our story begins on a foggy August morning in the heart of Oakland.

Emily Harris, take it away.

Mostly I feel like lots of anxiety and I feel feelings and pulled in a million directions

and kind of just want to go home and be in my bed.

But, yeah, my chest is really tight.

It's like, I feel like I'm just like protecting my heart.

At summertime, Emily Harris is speaking to me outside a courthouse in Oakland.

A bright gold pendant is looped around her neck.

It's hard to miss, especially against the serious tones of her pants and blazer.

In a few minutes, Emily will go inside, up to the seventh floor, Department 11.

Today's an important day. People will fill the gallery, awaiting a judge's final decision.

There's a judge that's hearing a series of cases. At some point, we'll be called probably more in the afternoon, maybe. We don't know exactly, like, I think after 11, there's a recess.

...