Independent Lens (1999)

Episode Overview

In Milwaukee, a 15-year-old tried to carjack law student Claude Motley, shooting him in the face. The aftermath of the incident left Claude facing numerous surgeries and overwhelming medical expenses, drastically altering his life due to gun violence. As he grapples with the trauma, he struggles with conflicting feelings about the young assailant—torn between the desire for justice and the broader issues of mass incarceration affecting Black men and boys. Ultimately, can Claude summon compassion for the very person who changed his life forever?