The SWAT members did not lower their guard just because of the film crew's words.
They split into two teams—one went into the crowd to inspect the film crew one by one, while the other moved to examine the restrained Nathaniel.
"We've found a black .45 caliber pistol. It was used in the incident."
"Confirmed. Three bodies total. The bodies show bullet wounds, most likely caused by this .45 caliber pistol."
"The tied-up suspect has slight injuries at the corners of his mouth, caused by the recoil of a pistol. That pretty much confirms he's the shooter."
The SWAT team leader stood off to the side, alert and watchful of both the film crew and the surrounding situation.
After hearing the report, this stern-faced special agent visibly relaxed.
He turned to the film crew and asked, "Who's in charge here?"
"I—I'm the director," Penny stepped forward.
The team leader asked, "Only one suspect?"
"Seventy to eighty percent sure," Penny replied.
"Did your team subdue him?"
"No. It was Martin."
"Martin?" The leader was stunned, then quickly followed up, "Which Martin? Martin Meyers?"
Clearly, Martin's combat skills were widely known not only among civilians but also within law enforcement circles.
Penny answered respectfully, "Yes, it's him. Mr. Meyers came to the set today for a visit. It just so happened that this Asian shooter attacked the students. To protect us and those kids, he bravely stepped in and subdued the attacker."
"Where is he now?" The leader scanned the area but didn't see any sign of Martin Meyers.
"Oh, he went upstairs with one of our actresses—Elizabeth Olsen—to calm the students. He was afraid the panic might lead to injuries," Penny explained.
The team leader's expression shifted to admiration. "Wow, what a noble act."
He then used his radio to contact the officers stationed outside the school and relayed the situation.
Soon, more officers entered the school and took the unconscious Nathaniel away in a police car.
Shortly after that, anxious parents rushed into the school. They found their children safe and waiting quietly in their classrooms—everyone except Johnny, Miká, and Turner.
"Oh God, Johnny! How could this happen?" A Black woman threw herself onto Johnny's body.
"No, no, this can't be happening! My son—he can't be dead!"
Vince Cranston, a board member of the school, stared at Miká's lifeless body, his eyes wide in disbelief.
That's right—Miká was his son. Full name: Miká Cranston.
Turner's parents had arrived too, devastated at the sight of their child's corpse.
Fortunately, only three families were grieving. The rest of the parents breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, Martin returned, walking with Elizabeth.
A LAPD officer approached politely and invited Martin outside.
By now, the entire school gate was surrounded by LAPD personnel, locking down the scene. Reporters waiting outside were growing impatient, when suddenly they saw a police officer escorting a handsome man out.
Gasps erupted among the media.
"That's—that's Martin?!"
"What's he doing here?"
"I heard there was a film shoot happening at the school. Maybe it's one of Meyers' productions."
"So he came to check on the shoot?"
"I overheard someone on the radio say the suspect had been subdued—could it have been Martin?"
"No way!"
"Why not? Everyone knows Martin can handle himself. That suspect looked like some Asian student. It would've been easy for Martin."
"He's really something. When something like this happens, most people would run the other way. Only someone like him would step in."
"That's what it means to do the right thing."
"I couldn't do it myself, but I hope we have more people like Martin out there."
"He's coming over! Quick—someone with a loud voice, start asking questions!"
"Martin! Martin! Can I ask you a few questions?"
A bearded reporter shouted.
Martin looked toward the nearby officer.
The officer, a bit awkward, said, "Sorry, Mr. Meyers. It would be best to talk to our boss before giving interviews."
"OK," Martin nodded, waved at the reporters, and headed toward a black van—a modified vehicle that now served as LAPD's mobile command center.
Before he could get close, a tall, thin man stepped forward and enthusiastically extended a hand from afar. "I'm Michelle, the Chief of the Saint Clarissa Division of the LAPD. Nice to meet you, Martin."
"Nice to meet you."
They shook hands, and Chief Michelle began asking questions about the incident.
Martin briefly recounted what had happened.
Elsewhere, parents began leaving the school with their children.
But unlike the worried parents, the students themselves had mixed emotions:
Some were still shaken—I was scared to death. How could a shooting happen at school?
Some were excited—I got to see a superstar today. That was Martin Meyers!
Some couldn't believe it—mainly the Asian students. Nathaniel? That Nathaniel? No way. How could he do this? What was he thinking?!
At that moment, two Asian adults arrived on scene.
"Where's our son?!"
"Nathaniel! Nathaniel..."
"Damn it, give me back my son!"
A White middle-aged man lunged forward, followed by a Black woman. A brawl broke out between them and Nathaniel's parents.
Turner's parents, eyes red, stood off to the side, yelling in grief.
Inside the police car, now awake, Nathaniel watched the scene coldly. He felt no emotion at his parents' concern.
After all—
If you hadn't started trouble, would anyone have wanted to mess with you in the first place?
Ha!
I really stirred the pot this time. Pulled off something big. Feels good.
Ah, too bad I didn't get to meet that beautiful actress named Elizabeth.
The police quickly broke up the fight, and Nathaniel's parents finally learned the general situation from the surrounding chatter and curses.
Their son was the shooter?
"This... This can't be real!"
Then they saw Nathaniel sitting in the police car, staring back at them with cold eyes.
They tried to rush forward and ask him more, but officers held them back.
Chief Michelle acted as if he didn't see the chaos and instead began thinking about how to handle the press.
Unfortunately, Martin had subdued the suspect in front of numerous witnesses. The department had no way to share the credit.
What a headache.
Martin, however, was sitting calmly in the command vehicle, sipping coffee.
An officer came in quickly.
Michelle asked, "What's the situation?"
"All the students and teachers have been evacuated. We've collected contact info from witnesses. Three fatalities—all shot with the same pistol. Six others injured while fleeing—mostly falls and scrapes. No casualties among the film crew filming for Meyers Productions."