to help the fellows navigate life or death choices devone enlisted men like james houston and sam vaughn, who themselves have rap sheets for violent crimes. >> let me tell you, city hall was like what? we're going to be looking to hire men and women who may have murder in their background? >> reporter: their background one of the things that makes them particularly suited to the interrupting violence. the fellow calling tells james he thinks he's being hunted. >> what kind of car? >> reporter: a car filled with suspected rivals parked in front of his house. unarmed, sam and james put their lives on the line to stop a potential shooting. we're told to keep our cameras down because the young man asked us not to show his farks his house or his name. >> i'm telling you seriously, take my word. >> but i'm telling you -- yeah, but what i'm saying is you're -- >> whatever it is right here. just a dead man walking. >> let us try to deal with this. >> reporter: sam and james stay with him until he calms down. >> for a minute it was a hard choice. but then again, i had to really think about it. >>