Fanning is the LA detective who starts to investigate the first 'hit' by Tom cruises character which leads him to realise that, as the nght wears on, subsequent deaths are linked to an FBI investigation into the activities of an LA drug lord. Fanning finally gets involved with the Feds who let him in on the investigation. It seems that those already killed are witnesses who will put a powerful criminal behind bars. One other witness is a chinese man who Vincent is going to kill at an LA club. Fanning arrives at the club and a firefight ensues in which Vincent kills just about everyone, fanning grabs Foxx's character Max and leads him outside but he is shot by Vincent who then instructs Max to drive him away. We do not learn if Fanning is killed or seriously injured but we do not hear from him again so assume he was killed. Coincidently, as Foxx's character is visiting his mother in hospital, Vincent and Fanning have a brief conversation in the lift.