Chapter 88: Faulty Intelligence

“I’ve taken the car. If you need to go out, take a cab.” Ao Xi had no time to explain anything to Zhuo Ning. He grabbed the keys and rushed out.

When he arrived at the police station, Susan sent him to the locker room. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Mark and six or seven other officers already suiting up: ballistic vests, riot helmets, earpieces, tactical packs, rifles, and handguns.

“You’re dressed like that because you’re going to war?”

Mark was pressing rounds into a spare magazine as he answered, “Who knows what we’ll run into? Better safe than sorry.”

“Well, that makes sense. Can I come too?”

Another sheriff, Green, walked in. “Of course, Ao Xi. You’re definitely coming. Hurry up and get suited.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ao Xi quickly put on the full set of gear as well. He still slung his shotgun over his back. Officers had to take a dedicated four-day course before they were licensed to use a rifle.

He did not have time for that, and he also felt a rifle license was hardly worth the trouble. Most police calls were within city limits, close-quarters combat was the norm, and there was little need for long-range firefights. At close range, a shotgun was terrifyingly effective.

Most ordinary officers did not like shotguns because the engagement distance was too short. At that range, it became a pure test of reflexes. If you lost that contest, you died. Setting up a rifle and firing from cover was much better, a safer one-on-one from a distance.

After they had all geared up, Green assigned the mission in the briefing room. “Everyone knows Sheriff Carlis was shot this morning. I’ve received word from the hospital that he is now out of danger.

“Because of a ruptured intestine, part of it had to be removed. Contamination also caused an infection in the abdominal cavity, so he still needs to remain in the hospital for treatment. In addition, he was shot in the right arm, which caused a fracture, but that is not a serious issue.”

Ao Xi could clearly feel the tension leave him. As long as no one else died, that would be enough. He glanced at Mark, and a faint smile had also appeared on Mark’s face.

“Now, as for the killer,” Green went on, “I believe everyone here is furious with him. I am too. According to the information provided by the data bureau and major crimes, the suspect is Lobo Weber, a Black male, twenty-three years old, with gang ties. Intelligence suggests he is currently hiding in an apartment in Baldwin Park.

“Because of how dangerous the suspect is, we have obtained both a no-knock search warrant and a knock-and-announce search warrant. Everyone should adapt to the situation as needed.

“A no-knock search warrant is similar to an arrest operation at home. The police can force entry immediately, so the suspect inside has no time to react. It greatly improves the surprise element of the arrest, protects officer safety, and also prevents the suspect from destroying evidence or harming hostages.

“Generally speaking, no-knock warrants are used for first-degree murder, hostage situations, kidnapping, terrorism, or human trafficking. But in recent years they have become difficult to get in the United States because there have been many cases of mistaken killings, and Black communities have widely opposed them: no-knock warrants are discrimination against Black people! Most of the people killed by mistake have been Black.

“And to answer some readers who have wondered whether the protagonist is killing too many Black men and will eventually wipe them out: the answer is no. You can’t kill them all.

“According to news reports, from January 1, 2023, to December 5, 2023, there were 9,870 gun-violence deaths in the United States, with an average of more than 114 deaths per day. On one day alone in Chicago, 18 Black men were shot dead within twenty-four hours.

“Note that this only includes deaths caused by gunfire, not other causes of death, including car accidents or other accidents. Black men are truly impossible to wipe out, so rest easy.”

Green continued, “When the time comes, I will lead you in a raid on that apartment. I need everyone to have clear responsibilities and work in close coordination to ensure that every room and corner is searched, that all threats are cleared, and that we do not stop until we find Lobo Weber. Keep in mind that he is armed and extremely dangerous. We also cannot be sure whether he is the only person living there, or whether he has only one handgun and nothing else, including explosives.

“So this operation is full of danger. Everyone must be careful, then even more careful. I want to bring all of you back safely. Any questions?”

“No!”

“Then let’s move out!”

They drove their respective patrol cars, with Ao Xi riding in the passenger seat next to Mark, and headed to Baldwin Park. When they arrived at the base of an apartment building, they got out to check their equipment before making the move.

Ao Xi was stopped for a moment. In the end, they still felt that using a shotgun inside a building was too dangerous, with the risk of hitting a teammate by mistake, so they only let him carry a pistol.

He had no choice but to put the shotgun back in the car, which was a shame.

Once they reached the lobby, they presented the warrant and obtained a room key from the security desk.

At the target door, Ao Xi looked at Green to ask silently whether they were going to go in directly or knock first. Although they had a key, that did not necessarily mean they had to storm the place.

After thinking it over, Green decided not to knock. He signaled Ao Xi to use the key to open the door.

Ao Xi nodded, took out the key, and got ready. When he saw the others were prepared as well, he gently unlocked the door and then shoved it open hard.

The others rushed in, shouting, “Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department! Hands up!”

After the assault team had gone in, Ao Xi followed. They searched the room, only to find no one there.

“How can no one be here? Was the intelligence wrong?”

Green scratched his head. He did not know either. Headquarters had told him this was the place, so he brought the team over. Why no one was there, he had no idea.

In truth, intelligence errors were perfectly normal. A suspect having more than one hideout was nothing unusual, so the police were given some margin for error. Even if an officer wrote the wrong location on a search warrant application, such as applying for Point A but arresting the suspect at Point B, it would still be fine so long as the discrepancy was not too large. A court would usually let it stand.

Green hurriedly took out his phone to contact headquarters. After a while, when he finished the call, he said, “The suspect is pretty well off. His family bought several rooms in this apartment building. He may not have been living in this one. Let’s search the other rooms.”

That was how it was: the intelligence had been wrong, but as long as they caught the suspect somewhere in this apartment building, it was not a problem. The exact room number did not matter much.

He led the officers up several floors to another door. According to the information, this was where the suspect’s mother and sister lived. Green thought it over, then stepped forward and knocked. “Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Open up. We have a search warrant.”

After a short while, a Black girl slowly opened the door. Before she could even finish saying anything, the police had already pushed her aside and placed her under watch.

The others surged in once again and searched every room.

The result was just as discouraging: nothing.