Ep 4. Unnecessary Roughness/Stolen Life

In season 7 episode 4 of The First 48, titled "Unnecessary Roughness/Stolen Life," the homicide detectives of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina try to solve two separate murder cases.

In the first case, "Unnecessary Roughness," detectives respond to a call about a man found dead in his car in the early morning hours. The victim, 43-year-old Michael Gentry, had been shot multiple times, and there was evidence of a struggle inside the vehicle. Detective David Osorio heads up the investigation and begins by talking to Gentry's girlfriend, who last spoke to him a few hours before his body was discovered. She tells Osorio that Gentry had been out at a local bar with his friends, but she doesn't know who he was with that night.

Osorio and his team gather surveillance footage from the bar and are able to identify a group of men who were seen leaving with Gentry. They bring in one of the men, who admits to being with Gentry but claims he had nothing to do with his murder. As the investigation continues, Osorio and his team uncover a web of lies and deceit, leading them to the unlikely killer.

In the second case, "Stolen Life," detectives are called to a scene where a man has been beaten to death in his own home. The victim, 81-year-old Joseph Bowling, was well-known in the community and had no enemies. Detectives try to piece together the events leading up to his death by talking to his family members and neighbors. They discover that Bowling had recently loaned a substantial amount of money to one of his friends, who had been having financial troubles.

Detectives focus their attention on the friend, who initially denies any involvement in Bowling's death. However, as they continue to question him, they find inconsistencies in his story and evidence pointing to his guilt. With the help of forensic evidence and witness testimony, detectives are able to build a case against him and bring him to justice.

Throughout both investigations, the detectives face challenges and setbacks but remain dedicated to bringing the killers to justice. "Unnecessary Roughness/Stolen Life" is a tense and emotional episode that highlights the difficult and often dangerous work of homicide detectives.