City of Lies (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Poole believed that Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, orchestrated Christopher Wallace's murder by bribing corrupt LAPD officers. His investigation revealed that officer David Mack, who had provided security for Wallace, was connected to Knight and to a significant bank robbery. Poole argued that these corrupt officers not only helped plan the murder but also systematically obstructed the investigation to cover it up.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Poole discovers Kevin Gaines had ties to Knight, establishing a pattern of corruption.

• russell poole
• the notourious b.i.g
• suge knight
• david mack
• death row records
• lapd corruption

Poole was forced out because his relentless investigation into LAPD corruption made him enemies within the department. After he shot corrupt officer Rafael Pérez in self-defense and testified about departmental misconduct, his colleagues turned against him. He resigned just months before becoming eligible for his pension, leaving him financially precarious and professionally isolated.

Foreshadowing: Lieutenant O'Shea had earlier dismissed Poole's findings, hinting at departmental resistance to his work.

• russell poole
• resignation
• lapd
• pension
• corruption
• rafael perez

Poole's investigation alleged that Suge Knight bribed corrupt LAPD officers to carry out Wallace's murder and then cover it up. Officers like Kevin Gaines and David Mack were found to have connections to Knight and his circle. The theory suggested Knight had motive due to Wallace's departure from Death Row Records and the resulting financial losses.

Foreshadowing: The film reveals Gaines was in league with Knight, establishing the criminal network early.

• suge knight
• death row records
• bribe
• lapd corruption
• christopher wallace

Just before Poole was set to testify in the civil trial against detective Frank Lyga, the city opted to settle out of court. This decision tarnished Lyga's reputation by avoiding a public trial while simultaneously leaving Poole isolated from his former LAPD allies. The settlement effectively buried the opportunity to expose the department's complicity in Wallace's murder.

• frank lyga
• civil trial
• settlement
• lapd
• corruption
• testimony

David Mack was a LAPD officer who provided security for Wallace and was later identified as a suspect in the murder investigation. Poole's investigation revealed Mack had connections to Suge Knight and was also linked to a significant bank robbery. Despite being named as a suspect alongside Amir Muhammad, both were ultimately absolved by the LAPD and FBI, though suspicions remained.

Foreshadowing: Poole and Fred Miller compile a list of suspects early on, with Mack being a key name.

• david mack
• lapd officer
• suspect
• wallace murder
• bank robbery

Kevin Gaines was an off-duty LAPD officer who was shot in 1997 in an incident involving detective Frank Lyga. Poole discovered that Gaines was in league with Suge Knight and had connections to the Bloods gang. This finding was significant because it revealed a direct link between Knight and corrupt LAPD officers, supporting Poole's theory about the murder conspiracy.

• kevin gaines
• suge knight
• bloods gang
• lapd
• connection

Poole shot Pérez in self-defense after witnessing the corrupt LAPD officer commit a crime in plain view. This dramatic confrontation occurred as Poole continued his investigation into departmental corruption. Pérez was subsequently charged and revealed connections to other officers' criminal activities, which further exposed the depth of corruption within the LAPD.

• rafael perez
• shooting
• self defense
• lapd corruption
• crime

Voletta Wallace's wrongful death claim gained momentum with Poole's assistance. Initially, suspects David Mack and Amir Muhammad were named, but both were ultimately absolved by the LAPD and FBI, leaving them in a state of suspicion without resolution. The civil suit would have potentially claimed Wallace could have earned $1 billion, but the case never reached a definitive conclusion.

• voletta wallace
• wrongful death
• civil suit
• lawsuit
• settlement

Jackson apologized for a biased article he had written that wrongfully implicated Christopher Wallace's son in Tupac Shakur's murder. During his investigation and collaboration with Poole, Jackson realized the harm his irresponsible journalism had caused the Wallace family. Voletta graciously accepted his apology, and this moment marked a turning point in Jackson's journalistic integrity.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Jackson researching the murder, setting up his eventual reconciliation.

• darius jackson
• voletta wallace
• apology
• article
• tupac shakur

Russell Poole suffered a heart attack shortly after deciding to renew his investigation into Christopher Wallace's murder. His death came while he was still pursuing the truth, leaving behind a legacy of heroism that went largely unrecognized during his lifetime. The timing of his death underscores the tragic toll his crusade took on his health and life.

• russell poole
• heart attack
• death
• investigation
• legacy

Both murders remain officially unsolved nearly thirty years later due to a combination of corruption within the LAPD, witness intimidation, and institutional failures. The film depicts how powerful forces, including corrupt officers tied to the music industry, actively obstructed justice. Poole's investigation was one of many attempts that were thwarted by a system resistant to uncovering the truth.

• biggie
• tupac
• unsolved murder
• lapd
• failures
• justice system

In 2015, investigative journalist Darius Jackson met Poole while researching Christopher Wallace's murder. Jackson documented Poole's theory about Suge Knight's involvement and the LAPD corruption that covered up the murder. Their collaboration resulted in Jackson writing a tribute article about Poole's efforts after his death, which earned Jackson recognition but also deepened his disillusionment with the justice system.

• russell poole
• darius jackson
• partnership
• investigation
• collaboration