So I come from a somewhat wealthy family and live in an upscale neighborhood. But my cousin was shot dead in 2014 as the result of a drug deal gone awry. It devastated me as we were very close growing up.

The morning it happened, two police officers came to my apartment and asked me if I knew *insert cousin's name* (which I obviously did), and they told me he was found dead along with two others in a shootout that took place across town. They gave me a moment to take it all in and they asked if I could come to the station with them to provide any answers about the situation and those involved. I respectfully declined and told them I'll only answer questions with an attorney present. They became a little confused and even a bit apprehensive, but they could not just drag me out obviously. So they left.

I then hired an attorney who was actually a friend of mine from college and I asked if he or one of his partners could come with me to the station, which he agreed. And when I got there, the questions were pretty straightforward: How long have you known *cousin's name*? When did you last see him? What do you know about his personal life? Did you and him ever not get along? Do you know any of these individuals (they showed me pictures of suspects they arrested)? etc etc

Ultimately, the case ended up being basically a slam dunk as the ones responsible for the shooting plead guilty and originally had a 50 year sentence but then it became a life sentence after they stabbed and killed someone in prison a year later.

So that's my story of being involved in a murder trial. I still miss my cousin. He was a troubled individual with drug problems that I tried to help him with many times, no matter how hostile he got. But he was always happy around the family. I'm also glad he got justice he deserved.

Remember: Just because you want an attorney to be at your side does NOT make you look guilty. As trustworthy as police are supposed to be, words can get twisted very easily. It's best to have an attorney there to keep them in check. Know your rights.