Strapped 1993

Shooting in the stairwell and the gun taken

Mitchell arrives home and witnesses a dispute between two youths that erupts into a shooting in the building's stairwell. He decides not to expose the shooter, takes the handgun used in the killing, and tells the shooter to run. This moment marks his first, uneasy brush with the consequences of street violence.

Mitchell's home life in the Brooklyn housing project

Back home, Mitchell lives with his mother, grandmother, and two sisters, alongside his eight-month-pregnant girlfriend Latisha. The crowded apartment highlights the pressure on him as he tries to reform while surrounded by danger and obligation. The family dynamic helps motivate his later decisions and loyalties.

Latisha's arrest and bail hearing

Latisha is arrested after selling crack to an undercover officer, triggering a bail hearing. The judge sets bail at $2,500, a sum beyond their immediate reach. Mitchell weighs how far he is willing to bend the law to keep his girlfriend from prison.

Mitchell becomes an informant and undercover gun buyer

To bail Latisha out and prevent a lengthy sentence, Mitchell agrees to work with the police in an undercover operation. He will sell guns on the street while feeding information to the cops, in exchange for a deal that could dismiss the case against Jordan if they can bring down the gun dealer Ben.

Mitchell teams with Bamboo and profits from gun sales

Mitchell teams up with his longtime friend Bamboo to assist with the operation. He also begins pocketing cash from gun sales on the side, blurring the line between cooperating with police and profiting from the illegal trade. The double life pulls him deeper into danger.

Ann connects them to a Georgia gun source

After bailing Latisha, Mitchell and Bamboo meet Ann, who introduces them to her brother in Georgia to buy guns. The plan expands to source weapons for profit, increasing the stakes for everyone involved. This connection widens the operation beyond their immediate neighborhood.

Cops stake out Ben and arrest him for firearms possession

The cops stake out Ben's setup to sell firearms and arrest him earlier at his suburban home for possession of 150 firearms. The informant team believes they have a strong target, but the legality hinges on more evidence. This moment sets the stage for the struggle over proving Ben's distribution.

ATF demands more evidence to charge Ben

The ATF informs the team they can't charge Ben due to lack of evidence that he is selling to youths, and they need more proof. Mitchell is told that the case hinges on gathering additional information. The tension between informant work and legal thresholds intensifies.

Ben threatens Bamboo after learning of police contact

Ben returns to the neighborhood to locate Bamboo and learns that Bamboo has been talking to the cops. He threatens Bamboo, heightening the danger for everyone involved. The trio's fragile trust begins to fracture.

Store confrontation ends in tragedy

Mitchell and Bamboo visit a local convenience store where Bamboo quibbles with an Asian cashier over the size of a sandwich. In a chaotic turn, Bamboo accidentally shoots a little girl who is standing directly behind him. Investigators begin to focus on whether the shooting ties back to the undercover operation.

Interrogation and subsequent release

Mitchell and Bamboo are interrogated by the police for the shooting, and after questioning, they are released from jail. The arrest and interrogation force them back to a neighborhood that now distrusts Mitchell as a possible police collaborator. The strain of the case continues to mount.

Lay-Lay reveals the neighborhood's suspicions

Lay-Lay tells Mitchell that everyone in the neighborhood says he has been working with the cops. The rumor undermines his relationships and complicates his attempt to stay out of trouble. He must navigate suspicion while the operation presses on.

Bamboo confronts Mitchell; a deadly fallout

Bamboo shows up at Mitchell's apartment to confront him about the rumors, leading to a heated fight and a shootout between the two. Bamboo escapes from the scene and is never seen again, cutting ties as the case spirals toward its end. Mitchell is left to face the consequences of his choices.