In the early morning hours of February 16, 2020, Jason Lewis Sr., a 39-year-old male, was shot and killed outside an after-hours club in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Lewis, a husband, father, and grandfather known for his community involvement, had gone to the Sahara Temple on Seventh Street with a friend. Inside the establishment, his friend became involved in a minor verbal altercation with a woman concerning a drink.
Following the dispute, Lewis and his friend decided it was best to leave the club.
Surveillance footage from that night shows Lewis laughing and hugging other patrons shortly before he exited the building. Within moments of stepping outside around 3:50 a.m., he was shot multiple times. A friend rushed him in a private vehicle to UPMC Presbyterian hospital, but he succumbed to a gunshot wound to the trunk later that day. The death was officially ruled a homicide.
Despite the passage of years, the case remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made. Allegheny County Police detectives believe they know the identity of the shooter, who is thought to be a family member of the woman with whom Lewis's friend had argued. The investigation has been hampered by a lack of cooperation from the numerous witnesses present at the scene. Authorities identified between 15 and 20 people who were outside and witnessed the shooting, yet none have been willing to officially identify the perpetrator.
The lack of justice has left Jason Lewis's family, particularly his father, Rick Lewis, in a constant state of grief and frustration. He has tirelessly worked to keep his son's story in the public eye, putting up a billboard and holding vigils, all in the hope that someone will come forward with information. Police have stated that while they have received anonymous tips, they need witnesses who are willing to testify to move forward with the case. The investigation remains active and ongoing as his family continues their desperate plea for answers and for the killer to be held accountable.
