In the winter of 2009, the life of 18-year-old Edward Jamal Lewis was cut tragically short in Oklahoma City. On the evening of December 6th, the young man, who was known to be a fun, smart, and creative individual, was shot and killed during an altercation. His death left his family, particularly his mother, grappling with the sudden and violent loss of a son who had been striving to overcome a troubled past.
The investigation into the shooting has, to date, yielded no arrests, and the identity of any suspect or suspects remains publicly unknown.
Edward, a male, had faced numerous challenges in his short life. At the age of 13, he became involved with a gang, which led to multiple expulsions from school. His journey took him through the juvenile justice system, with a period spent at the E.L. Rader Juvenile Detention Center for a probation violation. It was during this time, however, that a significant change began to take root in his life. Determined to turn things around, he earned his GED and subsequently a high school diploma through the Tecumseh School District.
Upon his release in September 2009, just a few months before his death, Edward was filled with hope and a renewed sense of purpose. He channeled his creative energies into his passion for music and was signed to Presidential Traphouse Records. With the encouragement of a mentor, he was making positive strides and his mother was optimistic about his future. The circumstances of his death are a painful reminder of a life that was on a path to redemption, only to be extinguished by an act of violence that remains an unsolved chapter in the city's records.
