On Dec. 28, 1998, 19-year-old Tyisha Miller lay comatose in her aunt’s locked Nissan Sentra at a gas station with the motor and the radio running. Family members said she was shaking noticeably and foam was coming from her mouth. A.38-caliber pistol lay in her lap. 

When the relatives’ efforts to arouse Miller failed, they called authorities, and four Riverside police officers responded to the call. With Miller in apparent need of medical attention, they forced entry into the car. According to the officers, when they broke a side window Miller sat bold upright. Fearing for their lives, the officers opened fire 24 times, hitting Miller 12 times, four in the head.

The officers claimed they had acted in self-defense. When the coroner’s report was released, it caused an uproar and many protested at police headquarters and demanded an investigation.

An assistant attorney general called Miller’s death “a terrible tragedy,” but “found no evidence to support federal criminal prosecution.” 

Through poetry, dance and beatboxing, “Dreamscape” explores the life of Myeisha Mills (Tyisha Miller) and re-frames her death by following the trajectory and impact of the 12 bullets that struck her, each one triggering its own unique memory, according to the press information. 

“Even though I knew about the incident and the subsequent demonstrations and actions, I was very reluctant to write a play about the incident because of how tragic and volatile it was; that’s why it took me up to seven years to write ‘Dreamscape,’” said Rickerby M. Hinds, associate professor of playwriting at the University of California, Riverside. Hinds completed the first draft in 2005.

“The topic is important to me on a number of levels,” Hinds said. “First, the inequity of treatment of African Americans in our society continues in spite of obvious progress that has been made, and I believe that this problem continues to hold us back, not only as a people, but as a society. 

“Secondly, or it probably should be first, I have a 19-year-old son and I fear for his safety in a place where he not only has to worry about other people who might do him harm, but he also has to worry about the people assigned to protect him as well.”

“Dreamscape” features Rhaechyl Walker as Myeisha Mills and John “Faahz” Merchant in multiple roles as the coroner, the officer, the 911 operator and the guy at the club. The play was directed by Hinds. 

“Dreamscape” will be performed at the University of Southern California on March 4. Tickets to the performance are free. Interested parties may rsvp by calling (951) 682-2664 or emailing dreamscape@bpcmediaworks.com.