Shaun Lewis, a 37-year-old man from Houston, Texas, was tragically killed on November 23, 2020. The incident occurred in the Clinton Park neighborhood, where Lewis was fatally shot by Robert E. Chenier, a 32-year-old documented member of the 52 Hoover Crips gang. Chenier and Lewis knew each other and had both grown up in the area.
On the night of the murder, Chenier had a dispute with someone he knew and began shooting at a house in the 300 block of Cartersville Street after midnight.
Lewis, who was not connected to that shooting, and another man saw Chenier on the street. Chenier confronted them, apparently to rob them, and took a pistol from the other man. As the other man ran away, Lewis raised his hands and offered to give Chenier whatever he wanted. Instead of robbing him, Chenier shot Lewis, wounding him. Lewis tried to run away but fell in a nearby field. Chenier then approached him and, as Lewis begged for his life, shot him in the head, killing him. Chenier then took a photo of Lewis's lifeless body.
After the murder, Chenier bragged about what he had done to several people. Investigators with the Houston Police Department quickly pieced together what happened and charged Chenier with murder. Chenier was convicted by a Harris County jury and sentenced to 40 years in prison for the crime. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg stated, "When a gang member shoots up a house, brutally murders a man and is so confident he will get away with murder that he brags about it, we see exactly how pervasive gun violence is in our community. We mourn for the victim’s family and thank the jury for ending this gang member’s reign of terror."
The case highlights the severe impact of gun violence in communities and the importance of swift justice for victims and their families. The sentencing of Chenier to 40 years in prison serves as a measure of accountability and a step towards addressing the pervasive issue of gang-related violence in Houston.
