the film depicts the story of oscar grant iii, a 22-year-old from hayward, california, and his experiences on the last day of his life, before he was fatally shot by bart police in the early morning hours of new year's day 2009. the movie begins with the actual footage of oscar grant and his friends being detained by the bart police at the fruitvale bart station in oakland on january 1, 2009, at 2:15 a.m. right before the shooting.