According to this episode, the events of the show take place in the 33rd Precinct. However, future episodes "moved" the precinct location to the 27th Precinct, where it remains today.
This episode appears to be based on two separate cases/incidents:
- The Manuel de Dios Unanue case involving the Cali Cartel. Unanue was a Cuban-born U.S. journalist, radio show host, anti-drug crusading editor of magazines Cambio XXI and Crimen, and editor-in-chief of El Diario La Prensa, New York City's largest Spanish-language daily newspaper. He was murdered in Queens, New York, on 11 March 1992, by alleged hitman Alejandro Wilson Mejia-Velez. His murder marked the first time a journalist on United States soil had been killed by Colombian drug traffickers.
- The Gary Plauché case. Plauché was an American man known for publicly killing Jeff Doucet, a child molester who had kidnapped and raped Plauché's son, Jody. The killing occurred by use of a revolver on March 16, 1984, and was captured on camera by a local news crew. Plauché was given a seven-year suspended sentence with five years' probation and 300 hours of community service, receiving no prison time. The case received wide publicity because some people questioned whether Plauché should have been charged with murder. Plauché contended that he was in the right, and that any parent in a similar position would have taken the same action.
On the stand George Lobrano says the Steyr AUG is a .223 Remington (5.56x45mm NATO). It is also available in 9×19mm Parabellum.
Shawn Elliott, who plays Ramone Bonvaentura, would make later appearances as a Judge Joseph Rivera during Seasons 5--12 of the show.
Andre Royo, who is best known for playing the character Bubbles in the television series The Wire (2002), appears as an extra in the courtroom scene (@ 50 minutes). He appears seated behind and to the right of the accused defendant Javier "Elvis" Gaitan. [07.12.2020]