Trivia: Laurence Fishburne plays Cuba Gooding Jr.'s father in the movie, even though he's only seven years his senior.
Trivia: John Singleton was nominated for the Best Director Academy Award for this movie. At the age of 24, Singleton became the youngest person to be Oscar nominated for directing.
Trivia: Writer/director John Singleton has a cameo in this film. He is the mailman with the uniform, cap, and sunglasses that delivers the letters to Doughboy's mother's house when Doughboy and Ricky are having a fight out on the front lawn. John gives the letters to the boys' mother.
Trivia: Tyra Ferrell plays Morris Chestnut and Ice Cube's mother in the movie, even though in real life she's only seven years older than them.
Answer: It was never said what they stole, just that they were going to go to the store (probably a corner store or convenience store) and they probably stole food. They got caught because they were just kids and not good at stealing or being sneaky. However, they didn't get a 7-year sentence for the theft. It's just that the film jumps to 7 years later and Darrin is now a gang member who has been in and out of jail the whole time. He's just celebrating his release from prison for a different, unknown crime. Chris is in a wheelchair due to a gun shot wound, though it's not stated how or who shot him.
Bishop73
I wouldn't be surprised if Chris shot himself with the gun he alludes to having earlier on in the film when they are still children.