Ep 19. Blackout

In season 7, episode 19 of The First 48 titled Blackout, viewers follow the investigation of a murder that occurred in Memphis, Tennessee. The episode begins with the Memphis homicide department being called to investigate the shooting death of a man named Gerald Wren, found on a residential street in broad daylight. When detectives arrive, they find a car crashed into a fence nearby, suggesting that the victim may have been trying to escape from someone.

The lead detective on the case, Toney Armstrong, immediately begins to gather evidence and interview witnesses. The first witness is a neighbor who heard the gunshots and saw two men running away from the scene. She provides a basic description of their clothing, but not much else. The detectives then turn to surveillance footage from nearby businesses and homes, hoping to identify the suspects.

As the investigation gets underway, detectives learn that the victim was involved in a drug deal gone wrong just before his death. They discover that he had gone to a local housing complex to meet with someone and reportedly left with a large amount of cash before the shooting occurred. The detectives suspect that the motive is likely related to the drug deal, but they are still piecing together the details.

Later in the episode, the detectives get a lucky break when they receive a tip about a suspicious car in the area at the time of the shooting. The car is quickly identified as a rental vehicle, and the detectives are able to track down the renter – a woman who lives in another state and had loaned the car to a friend. When they locate the friend, he initially denies any involvement in the crime, but eventually breaks down under questioning.

The man admits to being present during the shooting, but tells a convoluted and confusing story about what happened. The detectives eventually piece together the truth – that the victim had been robbed during the drug deal, and the suspects had chased him down and shot him, taking both the cash and the drugs. The man who provided the tip had been present during the robbery and recognized the shooter's car.

From there, the detectives work to build their case against the suspects, gathering additional evidence and interviewing witnesses. They ultimately make several arrests and bring the suspects to trial.

Throughout the episode, viewers also get a glimpse into the personal lives of the detectives working on the case. They discuss the toll that the job can take on their families and talk about the importance of maintaining a work-life balance in order to stay mentally and emotionally healthy.

Overall, season 7, episode 19 of The First 48 provides a detailed and engaging look at the investigative process involved in solving a homicide case. With twists and turns along the way, viewers are kept on the edge of their seats as the detectives work to piece together clues and identify the suspects.