Only one of them died. So, one of them's actually still alive. Somebody left this guy alive. I've got a surviving victim, but that sucks for everybody involved, because now he makes a pretty damn good witness. >> This is 22-year-old De'arra Hood, and this is the exact moment she realized that the very man she tried to kill is still breathing. >> He doesn't die, and he can talk. >> He could tell you that I was the shooter, and I'm sure he's told you that. >> And he will turn her in, proving that together with her accomplices, De'arra has carefully orchestrated a murder plot beyond imagination [music] as he solves his own attempted homicide once and for all. >> He said he killed somebody? >> Yes. >> I could easily charge I could convict you on that all day long right now. >> In the early morning hours of July 29th, 2013, the Celadon apartment complex in Norcross, Georgia, erupted with the sound of gunfire. Police were called by several residents, and when they arrived at the scene, they were met with a brutal crime. In front of building F, two bodies lay on the ground unmoving. Police raced to the scene to discover one of the men, 28-year-old Steven Carden, deceased from a gunshot wound. Beside him, shockingly, 28-year-old Thomas Smith was clinging to life, having survived blunt force trauma to the head after being struck by a heavy object. Police rushed Thomas to the hospital, where he slowly recovered and was able to tell police everything. After meeting up with 22-year-old De'arra Hood at a club, he and Steven went to an apartment complex to meet her for a consensual encounter. Instead, when they arrived, two of her friends ambushed them. As police bring her in for questioning, De'arra has no idea that the person whose life she tried to ruin is the very same person who is about to ruin hers, which is about as poetic as justice can get, isn't it? >> Okay, so I'm Detective King. This is Detective Crosby, okay? >> Excellent. >> I'm just going to turn my phone off real quick. So, we're just here. We're going to have a very important conversation today with you. I mean, one of the most important conversations you've had in kind of a long time. Um we've got some questions that we'd like your help with. And a lot of this stuff is going to be very important to you what we're going to talk about, okay? >> Police read Diarra her rights, but Diarra is met with a problem. She has a lot of crimes under her belt. For months leading up to the murder and even after, she was robbing people, getting in fights, and stealing, which means as police begin questioning her, she has to figure out exactly what incident they're referring to because it's hard to think up a cover story when you don't know which crime you're trying to cover up. And it's even harder when the victim of the crime has already told police everything. And if you enjoy killers like this, realize they're not winning an Oscar, subscribe, and check out our Spotify, where we upload podcasts every week. >> Well, I guess we'll just jump into it and I'll kind of give you an idea of of the main things we want to talk about, okay? Your name has come up in in some cases that I'm working here in Gwinnett County, all right? Um like I told you, I don't have any warrants on you. Um I'm I'm not the type of guy, I know we've never met, I'm not here to play tricks on you or try to, you know, play any games with you, okay? That's just not me. Um I don't I'm not the type that's going to yell at you and slam my fists and do all that. I know people have a vision in their head sometimes of what detectives do, but I just want to ask you about some of these things. I'd like to get your side of this because obviously there's always two sides. >> Mhm. >> Um so, I I want to, you know, I want to have a conversation with you and just see if you can help me out with with some of this information. Um there's obviously there's at least a robbery or two around here where your name has just kind of been floating around. The main thing we want to talk about is a homicide, okay? That happened >> A homicide, yeah. Um the case I want to talk to you about happened back in at the end of July. Um do you remember where you were living at the end of July? >> I don't. >> [clears throat] >> You don't? >> Not really. >> Would it uh if I had said I thought you were living in Highland Walk, off Shallowford Road and Tucker, does that ring a bell? >> I mean, I have stayed there. Like, I stayed in there with a friend few times, but I wasn't necessarily living there. >> The night that I was wanting to talk to you about is there was July 29th is the night. Um, there was a guy, do you do you go to any clubs or anything down in Atlanta, like off Buford Highway? >> Um, some. Like, >> Which ones do you typically go to? >> to go to like Chaparral a long time ago, and now I go to like Confettis or like, um, El Ocho, and like, um, what is that one? Like, I know people that work in Club La Vista, like, but really I don't go because they don't really let the people that I hang out with, they don't let us in, so. >> Mhm. You ever go to Down Pour You? >> Yeah, I've been there before, but I don't go there because that's one of the places where they don't let us in. Like, they wouldn't let like my like they won't let my boyfriend in or like the guys that he be out with because they look like cholos, you know what I'm saying? They wear baggy clothes and stuff like that, so they're not going to let them in there. >> Okay. You ever go to the Pink Pony? >> Um, no. >> No? Okay. >> I'm not really into that. >> Um, >> [clears throat] >> well, the the stuff that I I was hoping, and this is kind of where, you know, I really want your help is on on July 29th, 28th and 29th, um, somebody got your phone number and and I guess was having some conversations with you and was coming to meet you over near I think near Chelsea's apartment over there. Um, basically that guy ended up getting shot and killed. Okay, long story short. >> with me? >> Yeah. Um, so that's there's there's a lot of gaps, you know, and I I have a lot of the answers to to some of the questions, but I you know, that's where I really want because I've been working on this pretty solid for a few months now, okay? I I know I know a lot about you, probably a lot more than you know, you'd like me to know about you and about your friends and stuff like that and you know, I've done a ton of research. I've gotten a ton of records and phone records and this and that and you know, I have a basically a group of people that are associated with with this, you know, and what I'm trying to do is figure out who played what role, okay? I don't know if you were there and and saw this or if you know, I don't know the the details around that and that's what I that that's what I very important for you to to help fill me in on this. >> Well, I don't know about no shooting, nothing like that. And like to be honest, I'm getting a lot of people and like I talked to a lot of people and like if it's just some guy like I don't know like >> What What's Let me run something by >> like what was it about? Like you know what I'm saying? Like what was it about drugs or >> Let me run some stuff by you real quick. Your old phone number, you remember >> I got a lot of numbers. >> Okay. Well, I mean this is This is a bunch of your text messages from that number and there's stuff in here that I'm sure you'll recognize like talking to Psycho, your friends, Devani, stuff like that, okay? Most of these messages are back and forth between you and Tyler. >> Okay. >> Okay. Some of these highlighted messages are of interest to us because those are messages between your phone and and the person who was shot. So, that's what we're talking about is we're >> like that was shot like Let me see. >> Yeah, there you go. You can sort through those. Do you ever remember meeting that guy? >> I can't really too much say, but I do remember meeting these white guys. I remember meeting some white guys. And like they're really like they were trying to do some [ __ ] like that. And we're like really like I had like really just wanted to hang out with them to make money off of them, but like they never end up showing up. Like I don't know, I was on the phone with the guy and then I just heard a bunch of cussing and [ __ ] and like the phone cut off. And where I was going to meet him at, I was there and I was in Chelsea car, but nothing happened. Like he never showed up anything like that. And then that's when I seen like on the news the next day what happened. >> Okay, well, start again. Did you meet these guys at Don Pollo? >> I met them actually in the like around the street in the parking lot because the other clubs that I go to that I told you about is right next door. >> across the street there, right right there. >> Yeah, it's across the street. So, I met them in the parking lot and like I sold >> the deal? You sold them drugs? >> I sold them drugs in the parking lot. What did you sell them? Some >> Okay. What was the plan after that? Why were you still talking to them? >> Like because like they had money and I >> They wanted more? >> I wanted Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like they were talking about partying and stuff like that. So, I mean like really like me being a young girl, I'm not new to the streets obviously. So, I already knew what they really wanted. You know what I'm saying? But in my mind I just wanted money back, you know? Like I just wanted >> You had a kid. You had a kid at that point, right? You needed money. >> Like I just wanted to basically like sell to them, you know? >> Look, I understand. Trust me, this is not Like you said, you're you're not new to the streets. We're not new to doing this, okay? It's It is what it is. >> or was that weird? Hell yeah, that was weird. I like freaked out about it at first, but like you know, you meet a lot of people you don't know. >> he he was with another guy? You said there was two guys. >> Like I didn't talk to him. >> So, you Who were you with that night? >> Me? When I'm when When them? >> When you met them? When you sold them the drugs to them? >> them the drugs, like I walked up to them by myself. Like, I was by myself cuz like I said I knew what they wanted from the beginning was from the way that they were looking at me. >> Sure. >> But since they wanted to talk, I was like, "Oh, yeah, you know what I'm saying? Like, [ __ ] I'm about money." Like, yeah, I'm sure you know I've been locked up trafficking from this >> Yeah. >> coming so >> That's where your information >> Yeah, so that's what I do, you know what I'm saying? Like, really [clears throat] that's what it was. >> Sure. Okay. >> At the club, I was with Lenny. >> Uh-huh. >> Chelsea was not there. Like, we were with other friends, like some other Hispanic folks, like Puerto Rican guy and a Puerto Rican girl. But like, they were all on the other side, you know what I'm saying? Like, somewhere else, like when I walked up to them and I just told Lenny like to hold on that it was just business, you know? >> Mhm. >> Cuz the guy was like, "Oh, we have money." And we were like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I was just like, "Oh, well, just hold on. Let me talk to them." So, I did a transaction with them right there in the parking lot. We like got his number. >> In reality, Diarra was the one who approached Steven and Thomas, and it wasn't drugs she was offering. Diarra reportedly tried to invite the boys back to her house for some fun, when really she was leading them right into a trap. In total, she spoke with the men 27 separate times after leaving the club, giving them directions on where to meet her, and leading them on with talk about what she wanted to do with them. It was a classic honeypot scheme with someone who, frankly, ain't much of a honey. >> Chelsea >> were supposed to meet me somewhere close by there, but they never showed up like at the gas station where I told them to meet at like the little Shell like there's a Shell. >> Yeah, there's a Shell right there and like a Chevron and stuff like that. And I told them to meet me there and I stayed in the front, but like I never saw them. >> How much were they supposed to be bringing? >> Like, they didn't say. Like, it was never an amount of money that they were supposed to have on them. Like, they just said they wanted to hang out and stuff, like party. So, like I was like, "Okay, well, meet me there." But I wasn't comfortable with sending them to the house like, you know what I'm saying? So, I tried to meet them over there and like I was just going to talk to them to see what they were talking about. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Like and I thought a public place would be more suitable since I didn't know them and I knew what they wanted. So, like of course me being female by myself, I'm going to be scared. >> After leaving the club, Diarra was with a friend, Jovian Lanus, known [music] as JP, and Tyler Estrada, known as Looney, at the home of another friend, Chelsea. She claims that when she went out to try and meet them, she was alone. But she has no idea that her surviving victim has already told police exactly who was there, tattoos, hair, clothes, and all. >> Okay, so when you went So, when you went to try to meet these guys, >> Yeah, they were supposed to meet so they were like telling me everything like we'll all be back, you know what I'm saying? But like it just I stayed out longer and I guess like I don't know if you can see the calls where they was calling me too like worried about me cuz they heard the same thing like Chelsea heard the um I guess whatever the gunshot from inside the house. Like and I heard it from inside the car. And I guess she was worried since I was in her car, you know what I'm saying? And I was going to meet these guys. >> So, you were in Chelsea's car by yourself? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And she was back at the >> At the apartment. Yeah. >> Okay. And so, when you took her car, where did you go with her car? >> That's where I went. I went to go meet those guys to the plaza. >> you went So, you just drove up to that front thing? >> Yeah, I just went up to the front basically with her car. >> And which Do you remember which shopping center that was? >> The one on the left. Like when you come out to the left. You know >> It's the one that's right there right across from Bananas? >> Yeah, that one. >> Okay. And so, you went in there? >> Like I went I just stayed there parked like with the lights on the whole time and it was like probably like 5:00, 5:30. Like I'm sure a bunch of people saw me just sitting there in the car cuz I saw a bunch Mexicans going and coming from like, you know what I'm saying? Getting ready to go to work like getting in their vans, whatever. Like some people sitting in car letting it start up. You know what I'm saying? There was people there, but I didn't see him. You know what I'm saying? I'm like, "Where are you at? Where are you at?" And he was like, "Well, I'm not in my car. Like, I'm walking." And I'm like, "Why are you walking?" >> Yeah, so what was he telling you about where he was? >> Like, I thought he was just drugged up because he was like, "I'm walking." Like, I was trying to find you, but I'm like, "I told you to meet me in the front." Like, "Why are you trying to meet inside of of the neighborhood?" You know, I was like, "I don't live by myself." Like, I would like, you know what I'm saying? Like, so why are you trying to look for me? And I was like, "Come back to the front." Like, "Try to meet me in the >> calls that you're having between him is trying to basically get both of you in the same place at the same time. >> meet, but it never happened. Like, cuz I told you like, the phone call was just interrupted and I was just like, I don't know. I just got skeptical. Like, what's going on, you know? And that's it. [snorts] >> And then you said the next day you heard about something? >> Yeah, like that's when like, the next day when we got up, you know what I'm saying? Me and Chelsea, we normally go to the store, you know, like I might buy beer or some cigarettes. So, we're going to the store that's Chevron, whatever. Like, I used to go there a lot, whether it would be walking or driving or whatever. And like, we saw the yellow tape up and all that stuff. So, then like, we looked it up and like, I figured it out like, that something bad had happened to those guys. But, I don't know. I never knew that like, that they died or whatever cuz I guess they didn't put that >> Well, only one of them died. One of them didn't die. So, one of them's actually still alive. Um So, [clears throat] >> So, what? This must be the one that died. >> He's the one that died, yeah. Um >> Diara evidently didn't take any acting classes before failing out of high school because her "He's alive. Oh, that's good." is worthy of a Razzie Award. Now, her mind visibly reels as she tries to figure out what the victim told police and just how much trouble that means she's in. Diara's a mom, 22 years old, and she knows that her victim's survival might mean she spends the rest of her life behind bars, which means now she has to act fast and try to find out what he's disclosed. >> Well, I I guess the the biggest things that that I think we need to kind of iron out. Um there's a few things. You know, like I said, there's All I All I need from you is the truth, okay? Cuz obviously in something like this like I said, this is a very important conversation for you. I'm trying to think of how to put this to where it makes the most sense. Obviously, this is a very serious crime, okay? Um and I think most of what you're telling me is is true. I don't have a reason to doubt, you know, probably about 85% of what you're telling >> me will help me a lot. >> Well, I'm going to explain to you I'm going to explain to you and I I don't know that you were there and witnessed it. That's not what I'm trying to say, but I what I what I want to get across is that more than your phone has come back around to you in in this whole thing. Do you have any clue what more would I could possibly link back to you in this whole thing or the group of friends? >> You have one really good crowd right now, which is why you're here talking to us, okay? >> What makes her a big star of the band? Who'd be holding a gun? >> Do you know why that gun's important? >> Why? >> Can you guess? >> I don't know why that gun's important. >> That's the gun that killed the guy in this apartment complex. >> Dearra isn't just a bad liar, she's a downright stupid one because police have just shown her her Facebook profile photo, not a Snapchat, not a quick Instagram story she threw up. >> Her Facebook profile photo, which shows her holding the gun that was used in the murder of Steven Carden, but in several other armed robberies also, which might be even harder to explain away than why the surviving victim is identifying her as the woman who tried to lure him to his death. >> Like it looks bad, okay? You can charge me with this. >> I can easily charge I can convict you on that all day long right now, okay? That's not my my big focus here, okay? It It is, you know, it's a very serious crime, but my focus here is is on this homicide. So what I'm saying is that people have been pushing me to probably charge you with homicide for a while. Okay, but I I like to get the other side of the story. Now this gun, I'm not saying you did. I'm not saying you did. But what I'm saying is that right now it looks like you set this guy up to get robbed, which resulted in a homicide, which by law means that you're just as responsible for the homicide. So if there's more information, the only way at this point, you know, there's more to it because this gun is in you and Looney's hands the whole every picture, every time. Now that doesn't mean it ever changed hands. Now this gun, I'm not saying you did. You're telling us these aren't your friends. These aren't good people. They're not someone you need to protect. This is your life, okay? You got a kid. I didn't say you did. No, okay. I but I don't know because the guy that the other living guy was passed out during that time. So right now there's any number of people that could have been the shooter. Now he got knocked out. So he's not around during this during this time. So there's a little tiny window that I've tried I've got to fill the gaps in, okay? Now I will hang on. He was he would remember who knocked him out. No, he doesn't. No, he got hit in the head. He got lost his head. He got blindsided. Okay. You got hit with that gun and full speed by a big dude. >> The head trauma Thomas sustained at the scene of the crime made the actual events a bit blurry, but he does remember without a doubt that Diarra was the woman who set him up. When the two arrived at the apartment complex, instead of meeting Diarra, they were met by her friends Tyler and Jovian who tried to urge them to follow them to Diarra's apartment, but at that point Thomas and Stephen realized they were in trouble and what unfolded after is as much Diarra's fault as the man who pulled the trigger. So who had this gun that night? That's the big question here. >> I don't know who had the gun. >> If you're going to separate yourself If you're going to separate yourself from this, you know, there's more to it than I I would I didn't do it. I mean, there's a You understand that we're pretty much at the point where if I want to charge you right now with murder, I can charge you with murder. >> Yeah, I understand that, but the thing about it is you'll be convicting an innocent person of a crime they didn't do cuz I never murdered anybody. You know what I'm saying? I never robbed them. I never murdered them. So, why would you charge me with that? Just off of a picture? When I told you who told you to do it? >> a lot We're a lot past a picture. >> The JP, he was the one that was in control of them guns, not me. Not Chelsea, not anybody else. >> So, you're saying JP had the gun? That day? >> Yeah. >> So. >> the He had the guns every day. I don't know if they did or not. Like, I really don't know. But, I knew that like Let me say this. Like I can't say if they did it because I did not watch. You get what I'm saying? Like, I was not there. They knew that I was going to meet them. They wanted to do it, but I was just like, "No, let me see. Let me get some money. Let me get some money." You know what I'm saying? >> They wanted to do what? >> Rob him. Rob him. You know what I'm saying? >> Who is Who is they Who is they when you say they? Who is they? >> Like JP and like his little group or whatever. >> Specifically, JP and who else? It's important to be specific. Like you said, we don't want to put innocent people in >> just talks. Like, I don't know like who said what like to do what like I mean, I be on drugs. Obviously, you see I my hand. And I tell you that like I drink. >> If If there's one thing in your whole life that it pays off for you to think very hard to remember, I promise right now is the time to do that. Okay? This is probably the most important conversation you're ever going to have in your life. You understand that? Okay, armed robbery, aggravated assault, whatever they can charge you with, probation violation, that's one thing, okay? Hopefully you understand that murder is is a much different ball park. >> We're talking about something totally different that you've never talked about. >> stuff that I don't like. If I don't remember it to a T, then I'm not trying to tell you what >> I'm telling you what So what did they talk about? Tell me what they talked about. >> They just talked about basically what you're saying, like trying to get me to set them up. But thing was I never even got up on them to set them up, like whether they got to them before I got to them. >> Okay, so so tell me about What did they What did they talk about? What did you Tell me I mean tell me about it. >> Well, really like of course he's not going to They're not going to tell me everything, but yeah, like I think that JP is the one who did it. >> Did he say he killed somebody? >> Yes. >> So Looney told that to you? >> Yes. >> Was Looney there? >> that JP >> Was Looney there? >> And that he doesn't want to be around him and that we need to get rid of him. That's what he said. I just know that he has just told me like, "Look, JP killer, like trust him, like, you know what I'm saying? Like and I was just like, "Hey, look, [ __ ] we're not supposed to do, like, you know what I'm saying? Like [ __ ] we're not supposed to be like that, you know what I'm saying? Like I was just supposed to try to get some money and like what what do we get out of nothing? Nothing. You get what I'm saying? So at the end of the day like I didn't get [ __ ] from like except for the little 40 dollars with him. Like that's it. And I'm just like, "Listen, like I don't know what kind of [ __ ] y'all be on, but I'm not on that [ __ ] you know what I'm saying? Like I might be robber or but I'm not killer. Like I'm not going to kill nobody for a couple of dollars. >> With that, Diarra has given police exactly what they need. Jovian, or JP, being the person who pulled the trigger. The survivor, Thomas, was able to identify Jovian as being present at the scene along with Tyler Estrada. Police know for certain that Jovian was the man who pulled the trigger, but is he willing to admit it? And when he learns that he didn't kill both of his targets, what will his next move be? Police sit down with Jovian and cut right to the chase with him. >> Right now, I got people putting a gun in your hand executing somebody. That sounds like >> That's right. >> That's going to sound pretty bad when people start looking at that. So, if there's more to it, cuz the same people that tell me that say that when you told them that that you're saying stuff like guys were reaching for something in his waistband and this kind So, if there's more to it and maybe there's something else that provoked this or this shouldn't have happened. All right? This was a rob Listen, there was a robbery that was going to happen. All right? I I know that. Why did it get to this point? I don't know. But, that's what we need to talk about here cuz that's the [ __ ] that's going to make all the difference in this is why. That's the question. People are going to be asking why. Why did this happen? Okay? Is this just somebody going out acting stupid? Just Is this something that's on Is this somebody that was threatened at some point? That's the kind of stuff people want to know and that's what's going to make the difference here. All right? So, that's what I need to talk to you about and that's where our conversation comes into play. I know a lot I know most All the questions I'm asking you, I'm trying to see if you're going to tell me the truth. And right now, you're failing. You're failing miserably. You haven't told me hardly any truth other than maybe you've been living there and a few things here and there. But, let's you know, let's cut through all the crap and let's just have a real conversation. All right? Can we Can we do that? You're not You're not. So, all right. So, who's the shooter? >> I don't know. So, you really think I was right there? Right there when that when that jump going on, man? Come on, man. I wasn't even out there like that. >> I don't think you're right there. I think you were holding a gun. According to the information I have you're you're the one pulling the trigger. >> Well, how would that be possible, man? >> What do you mean how would that be possible? >> Well, no. Right now I wasn't there. I wasn't there. >> So, where were you? >> Man, I wasn't there. I wasn't there nowhere near around when that thing happened. >> So, where were you? Tell me where you were. >> there. >> Well, I went and talked to the judge today and got that warrant for you for murder. We're past that, like I said. We're way past where you think we probably are, all right? But, if you want to look like, you know, if you want to tell me what happened out there and fill me in, or if you just want to look like somebody that just doesn't give a [ __ ] >> No, I'm not saying like I don't No, I'm not saying like I don't give a [ __ ] man. I'm damn I'm damn real telling you, man. >> By you saying I wasn't there I wasn't there. >> put me on the scene. That's just like if I could say I could say anybody right now. >> No, my man. Listen, listen. There's a difference between pulling some random name out of just throwing it out saying such and such and such was here and did this. That's not what we talking about. These people know you. Y'all hang out. They didn't disassociate themselves with what took place. They implicated themselves just like they implicated you. >> But, they implicated me so they can get they selves off the damn hook. >> They're not getting off of anything. They got the same charge you got. >> That's what you don't understand. We're not We're not saying that they they snitched on you so that they can clear their names. They ain't clearing nothing. >> That what it look like to me. >> They snitched on themselves and because you're there, you're in it, too. That's basically how it works. They didn't They didn't talk themselves out of anything. They fessed up to what they actually admitted, you know, they owned up to what the hell they did. >> I don't know. >> At this point, Jovian realizes that his friends are going down, too. But, he's about to realize the biggest bombshell of all. It's not their word versus his. It's their words, the words of witnesses, DNA, and the words of his surviving victim who had no idea was even talking. >> I mean, you understand that one of guys didn't die, right? >> Right. >> So, I mean, you understand that you know, basically, the way this goes down, from what I understand, is that you and this guy this boyfriend here are walking through this complex and and run into these guys. You understand that when somebody doesn't die, that means they're still alive and they can still Okay. Uh I mean, they they had a conversation. Did you ever have a conversation with these two guys before they got killed? Is there any reason >> with who? >> Did you ever the two victims in this case? Is there any reason why you you would have had a conversation with them as they're walking around the complex that morning? >> Man, I never had no conversation with them. >> No? >> No. >> Interesting. >> How long you had them tattoos, man? >> How long I had them? >> Yeah. >> Since I got out. >> You had them a minute, right? >> Yeah, since I got out. >> There's not many people walking around with 343 or 187 on their face. >> But at the same time, if I'm if I'm doing any kind of dirt out there like that like that, >> Thomas was able to identify Jovian by his tattoos down to the number, which is yet another reason why face tattoos on criminals don't make any sense. >> What I'm trying to tell you, >> What what I'm getting at, man, is we know that this [ __ ] wasn't supposed to be a murder. [ __ ] just got out of hand. I mean, let's just be honest. You didn't go there and plan >> Go where I went now? >> to shoot these guys. >> Man, I wasn't there, man. >> That That's not what was supposed to happen. >> tell you that story, they're the ones that did that, man. I'm telling you, man. Whoever tell you that story, >> that told me that story admitted what they did. >> All right. >> They got Guess what? They got charged with murder, too. >> They ain't admit that they shot. I'll tell you that. >> You you you hung up on who shot. That's fine. We get that part. These people are not They didn't walk away scot-free from this. They got charged with the same thing. >> I'm telling you. >> You got You got to I'll give you props. You got a good story for all everything. >> That's real story I'm telling you, man. Even cuz I'm going straight through it, man. I ain't even I ain't even got to switch it up or nothing. I ain't switching nothing up, man. You know what I'm saying? You You sit all on the little drugs or some [ __ ] cuz I'm on probation, you know what I'm saying? Okay? All right, man. >> Man, we ain't We ain't That's not what we were >> We're We're >> We're We're so far past you being able to care about your probation right now. You You're proba- We can't even see your probation anymore. That's where we're sitting right now. Your probation >> The thing >> You You should wish that that's all we were here to talk about right now. We're talking about the rest of your life right now, okay? This is some serious serious stuff that we're talking about. >> Right. I'm not trying >> So, if you're If you're trying to If you're trying to save face about probation cuz you don't want to screw up your proba- Okay, we're we're past that, dude. >> Oh, yeah, I understand. >> Okay. >> I understand fully. That's why I said I'm going to take a stand on ASAP, you know what I'm saying? So, that's what we need to be getting on, and I don't give a damn. [ __ ] they trying to put me to I don't know what the hell they put me at for. >> You know They're not trying to put you nowhere, man. You putting yourself there. >> Huh? >> We just told you. It's a lot more than just these people right here telling us that you were there. All right? You ever see either one of those guys? No? You don't remember either one of them? >> Finally, he snapped, and he gives his full version of what happened that night, the version that makes him look the best, that is. >> So, what So, what was the whole plan? I mean >> The whole plan was they thought [ __ ] [ __ ] you know what I'm saying? They thought god damn, you know what I'm saying? Out there. >> So, what was what was going to happen? What was the plan then? What were they going to do? >> Staples going to rob them. >> Where was Where was this going to happen? >> [ __ ] I don't know, man. Wherever he got dropped at, though, you know what I'm saying? Real [ __ ] >> Wherever who got dropped? >> [clears throat] >> Where y'all found Where y'all found buddy at, you know what I'm saying? I just know that >> But, I'm asking where it was supposed to happen. >> It was supposed to happen around It was supposed to happen at their house. But, I guess the police had pulled them over pulled buddy and them over around the corner and made them get out of the car. You know what I'm saying? So, >> And how how did you hear all this? How did how did you get this information? >> Cuz I heard her talking on the phone. >> So, who's she talking on the phone with? >> She was talking to them on the phone. >> She's talking to the >> Yeah, and what was like, "Oh, the police got my car." You know what I'm saying? She had them on speaker phone, bro. She had them on speaker phone the whole time, man. I'm telling you, man. >> So, what So, tell me about the conversations you're hearing between her and these guys. >> Basically Basically, she was telling them how she was the [ __ ] you know what I'm saying? How she was going Dude tell him how he was married, you know what I'm saying? And uh what else? And she was Buddy was just goddamn after He was after the whole time, you know what I'm saying? He was just goddamn like, you know what I'm saying? Like, "Oh, [ __ ] Like, what do this [ __ ] Like, what do this shit?" You know what I'm saying? So, [ __ ] >> So, how much money was supposed to be involved? >> to get like a O eyes and some money. You feel me? >> How much money is that? >> I don't know. It had to be a lot cuz they had Anytime they trying to do some [ __ ] like that, you know what I'm saying? They'd be going in, you feel me? Like, them two just just No. Just really didn't do something or without thinking, you know what I'm saying? That's just how it is, you feel me? But, [ __ ] At the same time, boom. All right, boom. This is how it was. When she When they left, I say like 8 to 10 minutes, you heard gunshots. >> Diara's version of events, however, is a little bit different and she conveniently leaves out something important that in the aftermath of the shooting, she stole Steven's wallet and took his phone to erase text messages she had exchanged with him. >> So, uh I guess what was When everybody left the apartment, what was the plan? What was the What was the plan? >> The plan was for me to go meet these guys and like see what it was. You basically like you were >> going to meet with them and just kind of reassess what they wanted and is that what you're kind of saying? >> Like, basically trying to like that's what I wanted to do. That was my plan, but obviously that wasn't JP's plan. >> But, what what was what was the plan, cuz you guys were kind of all I guess on the same page when you left. >> Yes. My plan was to reassess. You know what I'm saying? Like if it looked like it could be done without hurting anybody or like anything like that, you know what I'm saying? Or to where like I could probably like maybe finesse them like to go in somewhere close by or like, you know what I'm saying? Like trying to get them to think I was going to perform with them or anything like that, you know what I'm saying? Where it could be like something smooth and nobody got hurt, then yeah. Then like I would have been down for it because like I'm sure you know that like I'm down by getting money, you know what I'm saying? Like come on now. It's my history, but at the end of the day like I never I don't have a history of hurting people or anything like that. You know what I'm saying? Like I don't do my crimes violently. Know that. So >> So you were going to >> to avoid that. >> meet these guys. And then so where does what was JP and the other where what was everybody else's role going to be in this? What what was what were they going to do? >> Like really like and nobody really had a role, like, you know what I'm saying? Like nobody just really had a role, like Like all them guys, all them little they all just really that's what they do. They rob people. Like they rob them, they like that's their lifestyle, you know what I'm saying? I guess like that's what they were taught to do. >> But I mean when they left that apartment, what were what was their plan? That what what was their plan going to be? >> Like yeah, I guess that's what they were going to do. They were getting ready to rob >> going to meet these guys. >> But like I was never going to really them or nothing like that. I was just going to see like either if I could like kick it with them, chill with them, get them drugged up to the point where like, you know what I'm saying? Maybe they pass out or something like and I could like take off with their [ __ ] or maybe like tell them get in the shower or anything like that, you know what I'm saying? Like before we and like, you know, like they would leave their pants or wallet somewhere, you know, and I take off with it. Like I'm down with doing [ __ ] like that. Not down with oh like let me just come pop you a few dollars. You know what I'm saying? Like that's the dumbest [ __ ] I've ever heard in my life. But I guess JP didn't like my plan. He didn't like my plan. So he cut it off and took the initiative of like I guess walking up on them the way that where I was supposed to meet them. You get what I'm saying? >> So what >> And like it was just bad luck on them guys because they got out of the car to look for me instead of staying in the car like I told them to and meeting me cuz I told them I gave them the description of my car and everything. Like if I had planned on really doing some [ __ ] like that, do you really think I would have gave the description of the car that I was in? You think I would have been wearing the same [ __ ] I was wearing when I left the club? Like just fixed my makeup and stuff? Like if it was something that serious, like I would never done it that close. >> What's this robbery we're talking to? And that's why I said that's why I didn't call >> and I really feel bad. Like I really feel guilty and like so did Louie. Like even though he didn't even have nothing to do with this [ __ ] Really, like you know? >> Diara has fully pinned Jovian as the killer and at this point, so has Tyler who was present at the scene. Jovian was ultimately the person who fired a shot killing Steven, but it was Tyler who hit the survivor over the head knocking him unconscious which means Jovian has a big problem to face. He doesn't know if the survivor saw him pull the trigger and now he has a decision. Does he own up to what he did or does he claim self-defense? >> What we want to understand is was this the plan from jump to just go out there and murk one of these kids or were you just was the plan just to rob them and [ __ ] just got out of hand? There's a big difference between the two. You feel what I'm saying? It's a big difference. That's a critical critical element for this case. Because that separates you and everybody else involved from being a cold-blooded killer to just somebody that got caught up in a robbery that just went sideways. You feel what I'm saying? That's a big difference, my man. That's night and day. And you got to understand that because now is the time for you to paint that picture for us so that we understand the difference between what happened. So, was it a robbery and [ __ ] just went sideways or what? Was the cat reaching for something and you thought he had something and he and you wanted to get him before he got you? >> Mhm. I don't know, man. It was like >> If that's what it was, man, it is what it is. That's what it was? >> Mhm. That's what it was. >> That's what it was. So, you wanted to get him before he got you. >> Yeah. >> So, how did that happen? >> He wouldn't get down. He had a gun. >> Who? Which one? >> The dude that was on the ground. >> So, was he reaching under his shirt? >> Yeah. >> He was going in his waist or what? >> Yeah. >> And you thought he was holding. >> Yeah. >> So, you popped. >> That's it. >> How many times did you shoot him? >> Once. >> Just once. Where did you >> I don't know. [snorts] >> What did the What Who Who was with you? >> Looney. >> Looney. What was he doing when this was happening? >> He the one who hit the [ __ ] man. >> So, he hit the other dude. >> Man, he hit the He hit the that that that that was supposed to be out, you know what I'm saying? He hit him first, then he fell. You know what I'm saying? He was reaching, man. You know what I'm saying? >> So, he hit the other dude and the other kid started reaching. >> Nah, he hit the the first dude dude that that kid >> Mhm. >> He hit him. >> What you mean he hit him? >> With the gun. >> Okay. >> You know what I'm saying? Dude fell. The dude went out. >> Uh-huh. >> You know what I'm saying? Dude started pulling up like a a Ruger or something. >> The other one? Or the same one? >> Same one. >> Mhm. >> You know what I'm saying? [ __ ] You know what I'm saying? About to pull Let go. >> So, he was already on the ground? >> Getting up. He was like this. He was on the ground like like this, just like this. And he was almost over with, man. And they weren't paying attention, just went around the wall. He beat the other You know what I'm saying? And that was the word. >> So, what happened after you saw >> We both ran. >> Ultimately, Diarra was convicted of felony murder and received life without parole. Meanwhile, Jovian took a plea deal, pleading guilty to felony murder in exchange for life with the possibility of parole. Meanwhile, Tyler Estrada pled guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated assault and was sentenced to 25 years behind bars. Our thoughts are with the victims, Steven Carden and Thomas Smith, as well as their loved ones. Thank you for tuning in. Besides subscribing to help us make more videos exactly like this one, you can also listen to all of our crime podcasts over on Spotify. And before you go, check out one of the craziest cases I've ever covered right here, or one of my newest uploads right here.