United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced the filing of a criminal complaint against Taqiy Lewis, 27, from Lakeland, for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If found guilty, Lewis could face up to 15 years in federal prison.
The complaint details an incident on December 24, 2020, when M.C., a 70-year-old woman, was outside her home in Lakeland with family members. At around 5:30 p.m., Lewis and others were involved in a shootout near M.C.'s residence. The exchange resulted in M.C. being fatally shot twice and A.L., a thirteen-year-old child, being wounded.
More than two years later, on February 9, 2023, during an unrelated investigation by ATF special agents and officers from the Lakeland Police Department, a Kahr CM9 9mm pistol was discovered while executing a search warrant. Forensic testing through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) confirmed that this weapon was used in the shooting that killed M.C. and injured A.L. Further investigation showed that six casings from the crime scene matched the gun fired by Lewis.
Lewis was already prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law due to his status as a convicted felon at the time of the incident.
It is important to note that "a complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law," and every defendant is "presumed innocent unless, and until proven guilty."
The case was investigated by both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lakeland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes will prosecute it.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021.