The story begins on the night of December 14, 1987 with the apparent suicide of Amanda Hunsaker, who jumped from an apartment balcony after a cocaine session, (Jackie Swanson), the daughter of Michael Hunsaker (Tom Atkins), an old friend and former army buddy of LAPD Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover). A veteran cop of 20 years, Roger Murtaugh gets stuck with a new partner on his 50th birthday. That partner is 37-year-old Detective-Sergeant Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), whose wife was killed in a car accident three years earlier. As a result, Riggs is a suicidal, borderline alcoholic, who has become so reckless and violent that he is considered a "lethal weapon". Sergeant Murtaugh first believes that his new partner is "trying to draw a psycho pension" and is horrified to learn that he genuinely is "crazy." However, he is soon indebted to his new partner for saving his life.
While investigating Amanda Hunsacker's death, the two uncover a heroin-smuggling operation run by Vietnam War special forces troops, known as 'Shadow Company' (see Air America). The scheme is masterminded by a ruthless retired General, Peter McAllister (Mitchell Ryan) - the former commander of Shadow Company - and his chief enforcer, Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey). Murtaugh and Riggs - also Vietnam War veterans - discover that Michael Hunsacker was laundering the profits through his bank. McAllister had ordered the murder of his daughter to keep his laundryman under control. As Riggs and Murtaugh confront Michael Hunsacker, Mr. Joshua makes a surprise appearance in a helicopter and shoots him in the back with a sniper rifle.
As Riggs and Murtaugh discover more about Shadow Company's network, the increasingly violent members of Shadow Company make an attempt to kill Riggs, then kidnapping Murtaugh's daughter (Rianne) after Riggs and Murtaugh discover her boyfriend was killed by Shadow Company. Despite their best attempt to free Rianne by using Riggs presumed dead status to their advantage, the three are captured. Using Rianne, Joshua pressures Murtaugh to reveal which of their drug shipments have been compromised. Riggs, though initially captured by McAllister and brutally tortured with electric shocks, frees himself and then liberates both Murtaugh and Rianne. The pair then declare war on Shadow Company, gunning down most of its members. McAllister is caught in a car accident by Murtaugh and is blown up by a live hand grenade (along with his heroin shipment). Both Riggs and Murtaugh shoot Mr. Joshua after Riggs beats him with a Triangle Choke in an unarmed combat fight on Murtaugh's front lawn.
Murtaugh and Riggs are now solid friends, and Riggs spends Christmas Day at the Murtaugh home with Roger's family; Riggs brings his dog Sam to be a friend to the Murtaugh family cat, Burbank. Riggs also gives Murtaugh a symbolic gift, the unfired hollow point bullet which he had been saving to commit suicide.
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