Major Characters:
Steve Harmon - A sixteen year old young Black man who has been arrested for acting as the look-out in robbery that goes bad and ends in a murder.
Kathy O’Brien - Steve’s defense attorney who uses his character traits before the crime and makes sure she distances him from the other defendants as way of getting a not guilty verdict.
Sandra Petrocelli - Assistant District Attorney who prosecutes the case against Steve and James King.
Asa Briggs - The lawyer of the Steve Harmon's co-defendant ( James King ).
James King - A black man who is accused of being in the drugstore, wrestling Mr. Nesbitt for the gun, and ultimately shooting the older man to death.
Richard “Bobo” Evans - The other young man accused of being in the store at the time of the murder who steals the money from the register and grabs the cartons of cigarettes when the gun goes off.
Osvaldo Cruz - Another participant in the crime who was to stand outside and trip up anyone who tried to catch them after they robbed the store.
Judge - A Judge who acts bored with the trial and declares recess often.
Minor Characters:
Lorelle Henry - A grandmother who was in the drugstore at the time of the murder. She testifies that she saw two men there and picks James King from a handful of pictures and then out of a lineup.
José Delgado - Man who worked in the drugstore and first found Mr. Nesbitt’s body.
Steve’s Parents - Hard-working people who have tried to raise their sons right. Steve’s mother continues to believe in Steve no matter what, but his father acts like he doesn’t really know Steve.
Dorothy Moore - The cousin of