In a tragic and senseless act of violence, 20-year-old Devon Lewis of Benton Harbor, Michigan, lost his life in June 2015. The young Black / African American man was shot in the stomach on June 14, 2015, following a dispute over a mere $3 during a dice game. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries on June 26th. The incident tore apart two families who were connected by both friendship and blood.
The man responsible for Lewis's death was his own friend and the half-brother of his
girlfriend, 23-year-old Tyshawn Yates. The argument escalated to a fatal point when Yates, who was on probation and legally prohibited from possessing a firearm, produced a handgun and shot Lewis. In the wake of the shooting, Yates turned himself in to the authorities.
The legal proceedings that followed brought to light the devastating impact of this impulsive act of violence. Yates was charged with open murder, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, and felony firearm. During a preliminary hearing, a judge determined there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. In court, the victim's family expressed their profound grief and anger over the loss of their loved one for such a trivial amount of money. The case was further complicated by the fact that the victim and the accused were so close, leaving Lewis's girlfriend to grapple with the reality that her own half-brother had killed the father of her young daughter.
In March 2016, a jury found Tyshawn Yates guilty of first-degree murder and other charges. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. At the sentencing, the judge admonished Yates for his disregard for the law, particularly his possession of a handgun while on probation. Though no victim impact statements were made by Lewis's family, the prosecuting attorney highlighted the profound loss suffered by Lewis's young daughter, who would grow up without her father. Following his sentencing, Yates indicated his intention to appeal the verdict.
