A U.S. Army Sergeant Is Murdered — ‘20/20’ Investigates a Heartless Plot of Adultery and Greed

Sgt. Tyrone Hassel III had beat the odds. Growing up in what was considered a “tough neighborhood,” Tyrone was an honors student who excelled at sports and won a college scholarship to study engineering. He later joined the Army, where he quickly rose through the ranks and would start a family alongside his wife, Army Specialist Kemia Hassel. When he was gunned down while visiting his family for the holidays, police wondered – who would want Sgt. Tyrone Hassel dead? In a new “20/20,” ABC News correspondent John Quinones takes viewers inside the investigation into the tragic murder through the use of body camera footage, jail phone calls, and never-before-seen police interrogation videos. When authorities finally solve this murder mystery, they uncover a cold and heartless plot of adultery and greed that left them shocked and a suspect they never saw coming.

The two-hour program includes exclusive interviews with Special Agent Zachary Roberts of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Det. Sgt. Cory Peek of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, and Azmin Velazquez, the killer’s wife at the time of the murder. It also features interviews with Tyrone Hassel Jr., the victim’s father; Ashanti Hassel, the victim’s stepmother; Sgt. Mike Lanier and officer Jaramee Peppers of the St. Joseph Township Police; Steve Pierangeli, prosecuting attorney for Berrien County; and Rick Biggart, a retired lieutenant from Berrien County Sheriff’s Department. The program includes additional exclusive interviews with close friends and associates of Tyrone Hassel III and Kemia Hassel. “20/20” airs on Friday, Feb. 16 (9:01-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC, next day on Hulu.

ABC News’ “20/20” is the #1 award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years, “20/20” features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories. Janice Johnston is the executive producer. The two-hour “20/20” events air Fridays from 9:01-11:00 p.m. EST on ABC and are available to stream on ABC News digital platforms and Hulu.

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