Ep 1. Masked in Mobile

In the first episode of season 20 of The First 48, entitled "Masked in Mobile," viewers are taken to Mobile, Alabama to follow the investigation into the murder of a young man named Tariq Johnson. Johnson, a recent high school graduate, was shot in the back while sitting in the driver's seat of his car outside of a friend's house.

Detectives Cedric Hatcher and Keith Miller are the lead investigators on the case, and they immediately begin canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and surveillance footage. They learn that the shooter was wearing a mask, making identification difficult, but they are able to narrow down their suspect pool to a few local gang members who may have had a motive to kill Johnson.

As the detectives gather more evidence, they become increasingly convinced that the murder was gang-related, and they focus their efforts on convincing witnesses to come forward and testify against the suspects. Their hard work pays off when they are able to track down one of the men believed to be involved in the shooting, and he agrees to give a statement to the police.

Over the course of the episode, viewers also see the toll that the investigation takes on both the detectives and Johnson's family. Hatcher and Miller work tirelessly to bring the killer to justice, often working long hours and sacrificing time with their own families. Meanwhile, Johnson's mother and sister struggle to come to terms with their loss and find closure in the knowledge that the person responsible for Tariq's death will be brought to justice.

Overall, "Masked in Mobile" is a tense and emotional episode that offers a glimpse into the difficult and often dangerous work that detectives do to solve murder cases. With a focus on both the investigation and the impact of the crime on Johnson's loved ones, the episode shows the human side of crime-solving and the emotional toll that violent crime can take on victims and their families.