(SVU fans will recall the premise of a juvenile being charged as an adult being done in much better fashion in the season 4 episode “Juvenile.” )
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
Guest stars:
Christopher Dylan White - Avery Parker
Dante Brown - Darius McCrae
Robert Sean Leonard - ADA Kenneth O'Dwyer
Adrienne C. Moore - Cheryl McCrae
Bill Irwin - Dr. Peter Lindstrom
Jessica Phillips - ADA Pippa Cox
Danny Burstein - Eric Parker
Rebecca Luker - Lisa Parker
Jenna Stern – Judge Elana Barth
Niles Fitch - Keon Williams
Hari Dhillon – Counselor Varma
Jolly Abraham – Doctor
Dashill Eaves – Uniform Officer
Bill Irwin – Doctor Peter Lindstrom
Libya Pugh – Ms. Davis
Elain Graham – Eliza
Ron Simons – Principal Al Pompeo
Bianca Leigh – Doctor Rachel Sandow
Travaris Spears – Markus Green
Taliyah Whitaker – Tonya McCrae
Zenzele Cooper – Jewell Williams
Andrea-Rachel Parker – Aniah Butters
Katherine Pecevich – Female German Tourist
Paul Castro, Jr. – Connor
Alsharik Sejour – Teen Spectator # 1
Tremayne Rollins – Teen Spectator #2
Jean Chung – Melody
Grace Abrahams – Rain
Avery Parker gets his wake up alarm and gets out of bed. Also, at home, Darius McCrea, does the same. Avery puts on makeup and gets dressed in women’s clothing. She leaves for the day after talking with her parents, who seem understanding of her attire and tell her to be careful in the park because of the heels. Darius make breakfast for himself and his sister, saying their mother had to work a double shift. Avery heads to the park and Darius as at school, where a teacher tells him to keep drawing, he has talent.
At Fort Tryon Park on Monday, June 15, Darius is there with his sister and two friends. They see Avery in a dress and chase after her, to see if Avery is a guy or a girl. They begin to harass her and as people nearby records the activity, Darius’ sister warns him they will get in trouble, Darius and Avery struggle over a camera that Avery has and in the struggle, Darius tells Avery to get off him and he pushes Avery, who falls over the bridge, Stunned, they see Avery on the ground not moving and everyone flees.
Later, Rollins and Carisi are on the scene and find Avery is a he, not a she. They speak with two tourists who were witnesses; the officer explains what led up to the accident, Carisi guesses the kids went to the schools nearby.
At the hospital, Benson is there with Carisi and Avery’s parents and get a description of the boys from Avery. They were giving her the look – the freak needs to learn a lesson look. She tried to go but they started saying stuff ; they called her tranny, he/she. She told them to leave her alone. One grabbed her skirt and another her camera. She was pushed and tripped on her heels. People were laughing and taking video. Avery’s father Eric says this isn’t the first time and the local precinct never follows up. Benson says they take this very seriously and promised to follow up. Avery’s mother Lisa nods.
Benson returns to SVU and Rollins and Fin have found three separate cell phone videos and they all began after it started. They play a video back and says the recording goes on until the fall. Rollins says two sophomores and one junior from Shirley Chisholm posted them. Benson tells them to all go – full court.
At Shirley Chisholm High School on Tuesday, June 16, Rollins and Fin speak with one of the girls who doesn’t know who was harassing Avery. Benson and Carisi speak with a teacher who says the video is disturbing but the behavior is not indicative of their community. Benson asks who are these kids.
Later, in a classroom, the teacher calls out for Keon Williams and Marcus Green to come with him. In another classroom, Fin and Rollins ask for Darius and find he was there before school began but was upset about something. The teacher states Darius hates the projects where he lives but says there is one place he likes to go.
At Book Culture on Tuesday, June 16, Darius is sitting on the floor drawing in his book when Fin and Rollins find him and ask him to get up. He denies doing anything but Fin tells him to make this easy and Darius complies. They walk him out of the bookstore to the stares of many customers.
At SVU, Carisi questions Keon there with his mother, who both cop attitudes. Marcus is there with his grandmother who calls Avery a he/she who acts like one and wears makeup. When his grandmother ask Benson why would anyone do that, Benson states that is not the issue, her grandson pushed a kid off a bridge. His grandmother is shocked and said he’d better tell them who did. Marcus says he doesn’t know but Carisi presses him and he says it was Darius. Darius walks in with Rollins and Fin who tells Darius to have a seat. They ask if he wants food but he says his stomach is not feeling so good. His mother enters, calling out his name. They make the introductions, and Darius says he is sorry. They explain what happen and Darius says he didn’t mean to hurt him. His mother Cheryl tries to explain Darius is a good boy and Rollins stated because Darius is 15 they waited for her to read Darius his rights.
Later, they question Darius who admits they were all messing with Avery. He didn’t want his friends to think he was gay. Avery fell on him and didn’t mean to push him over the bridge. He ran because he thought he killed someone. Meanwhile, Benson and Carisi are observing and Carisi thinks Darius feels genuinely bad but the other two think it is funny. Benson says the other who didn’t push Avery off the bridge; Avery could have died. Carisi says on the bright side, all three confessed and they have the video evidence so they are done. Benson states the video is shaky and the kids are under aged. She doesn’t want anyone claiming the confessions were coerced. She asks him to see if Avery can come in and make an ID.
Later, watching the line ups, Avery stands up, in pain, wearing a neck brace, and then identifies number 4, number 1, and number 3 – Keon, Marcus, and Darius. She says they look smaller in there, and scared. Carisi comments that they should be, they are in trouble. Avery asks if they said why they did this to him; she’s not stupid and was not being cheeky. Her mother replies is wasn’t anything she did, adding they need to get back to the hospital. As they enter the squad room, Cheryl stand up and says she is Darius’ mother. Benson tells her now may not be the best time, but Avery tells Benson to hold on, she wants to hear her out. She says her son is really sorry for hurting him, and Avery asks if he told her why he did this to her. As his mother urges them to go, Avery asks them to wait a minute, and grabs Darius’ mother’s hand and asks her to ask Darius. Avery’s father pulls Avery away and says they need to leave as Cheryl looks agonized. As they leave, Fin approaches Cheryl and has her sit down. She asks if Darius has to send the night there, and Fin explains he will be able to go home. He adds the desk sergeant will give her an appearance ticket for tomorrow for family court. She states he has to work tomorrow, she is a home car attendant. Fin says he will have to call in sick, she has to be there.
