DY: This is Detective Alan Yerwood speaking on Wednesday September 7th at 9:00 p.m. I’m interviewing Stella (S-T-E-L-L-A) Walker (W-A-L-K-E-R), age 16. DOB 4/17. Subject is currently a junior at Argleton High School

DY: What time did you arrive at the Lone Pine Mall?

SW: I think it was about 4:20 p.m. We got there in time to buy popcorn and drinks and catch the previews at the 4:30 showing of Alien.

DY: You stayed for the entire movie.

SW: Yeah. It was awesome. Way better than I thought it would be. I’m not really that into sci-fi. It’s more Rob’s thing, which is why I suggested we go. He’s been pretty down since he got back from his last deployment and it’s one of his favorite movies, so I thought it might cheer him up. He seemed like he was in a better mood when it was over, and I suggested we go get some frozen yogurt. He wanted ice cream, so we went to Dreamiscle Creamsicles.

DY: What time was this?

SW: I think it was around 6:30?

DY: Tell me about the encounter that led to the fight.

SW: I saw Wade Boles and Jed Landon when we got to the food court and purposely tried to avoid them.

DY: And why was it you wanted to avoid them?

SW: They aren’t exactly my favorite people at school. They have some, well, narrow-minded views about things. To be honest, that’s what led to the fight. They were harassing the guy who was cleaning tables.

DY: Harassing how, exactly?

SW: I feel bad even saying it because it’s so offensive, but Jed called him a “raghead” and a “terrorist.” That’s when Rob got up and started walking toward them.

DY: How did the kid who was cleaning tables respond?

SW: He said, “Piss off,” or something like that. But they didn’t back off. Then Wade spit on the floor and threw a piece of pepperoni on top of the spit and told the guy to clean it up. That’s when Rob intervened. He told Wade to clean it up himself and apologize. I started walking over because I had a feeling it wasn’t going to end well.

DY: How did Wade respond?

SW: He swore at Rob.

DY: How did your brother take that?

SW: Not well. He grabbed Wade by the collar and told him again that he should apologize and clean up the mess himself. And then Wade said, “What are you, some kind of terrorist lover?” That was what did it.

DY: Did what?

SW: Made Rob lose it. He punched Wade, and then he kept on punching him until we were able to pull him off.

You have to understand, Detective, Rob’s a marine. He did two tours in Afghanistan. Defending people is what he does.

[silence]

Do you see what I mean? You just don’t go around calling someone like my brother a terrorist lover. Especially when you don’t even know the difference between Sikh and Muslim, and don’t even care because you think they’re all terrorists anyway.

DY: Was that when security arrived?

SW: Yeah. Someone called 911 and one of the employees at the food court called mall security. Security came first, and they took Rob into their office until the police came.

DY: Detective Overmann entered the room at 9:45 p.m.

DO: Miss Walker, do you have any idea who Jason is?

SW: Is Rob okay?

DO: Miss Walker, who is Jason?

SW: He was my brother’s friend. They served together in Afghanistan. Jason shot himself two weeks ago. Seriously, Detective, is my brother okay?