In the crisp autumn air of October 1, 2016, Nicholas Andrew Lewis, a talented 33-year-old male chef, was walking home from a convenience store in Englewood, Colorado. His life, filled with the promise of a rising culinary career and the love of his family, was cut tragically short in a senseless act of violence. As he made his way along South Acoma Street, he was randomly targeted and fatally shot.
First responders found him on the ground with several gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The Arapahoe County Coroner's Office later confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to the chest and ruled his death a homicide. The news of his sudden and violent death sent shockwaves through the Denver community, where he was the respected chef at Blackbird Public House.
The investigation into the murder of Nick Lewis quickly uncovered a chilling narrative of a crime spree perpetrated by two teenagers. Englewood Police detectives worked diligently on numerous leads, and their investigation led them to two suspects who were already in custody for unrelated charges. The suspects were identified as Raheem Benson and Louis Lara-Marcias. Investigators discovered that the two had been involved in a series of criminal activities, and the attack on Lewis was a random and brutal act. Evidence revealed that after the shooting, Benson had brazenly boasted about the murder on social media, even posting photos with the weapon and the mask he wore during the crime. This digital trail, combined with other evidence, solidified the case against the two teenagers.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of justice for Nicholas Lewis and his grieving family. Both teenagers were charged as adults with first-degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery. Louis Lara-Marcias pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a sentence of up to 21 years in the Department of Corrections, with the possibility of a suspended sentence after seven years in a youth offender system. Raheem Benson, the triggerman, was convicted of first-degree felony murder, second-degree murder, and attempted aggravated robbery. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. During the sentencing, the court heard emotional testimony from Lewis's family, who traveled from Florida to implore the judge for the maximum sentence, describing the profound and permanent impact of his 'unjust and senseless' death.
