City of Lies

In 2015, Jackson is an investigative reporter tasked with exploring the Wallace murder, rekindling decades-old questions through interviews and archival research. He forms a cautious alliance with Poole and ultimately writes a piece that reframes Poole as a forgotten hero, even as he grows disillusioned with systemic hypocrisy. His pursuit of the truth drives the film’s throughline across time.

A veteran LAPD detective who develops a controversial theory that Suge Knight corrupted officers to murder Wallace and cover up the crime. He endures career sabotage, a transfer, and social shunning as he pursues the truth. His relentless investigation ends with a heart attack, highlighting the personal costs of challenging a powerful system.

A white detective whose shooting by a fellow officer intersects with Knight's payroll and gang ties, complicating the Gaines-Lyga case. His involvement helps propel Poole’s investigation and the broader corruption narrative, contributing to civil suits and public scrutiny.

Lyga is the detective at the center of the Gaines-Lyga shooting. Though exonerated publicly, he faces civil suits and immense pressure to close the case, illustrating how institutional protection can shield wrongdoing and crush individual reputation.

An LAPD officer connected to Knight and Wallace's security details, Mack’s arrest and links to a bank robbery contribute to the tapestry of police complicity. His role expands Poole’s list of suspects and underscores how powerful figures can influence law enforcement.

The murder victim whose death sparks a public controversy about race, policing, and celebrity influence. Wallace’s case becomes a focal point for debates over truth, memory, and how media narratives shape perception of crime. His legacy looms over the investigation and its unresolvable conclusions.

Wallace’s mother, who files a wrongful death claim and anchors the human cost of an unsolved murder. Her presence underscores the emotional stakes of the investigation and the drive for accountability, shaping public memory and the pursuit of justice.

Poole’s superior who resists the conspiracy theory and pressures him to close the Gaines-Lyga investigation, illustrating the LAPD hierarchy and the political pressures within the department. His stance helps push Poole toward deeper inquiry, highlighting the friction between leadership and investigative ambition.