A 40-year-old Ford Heights man convicted of shooting a neighbor to death was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.
Lawrence Lewis, formerly of 1052 Lexington Circle, had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ernest Drake, 45, in May 1996. Associate Judge Paul Nealis last month found Lewis guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder. Lewis could have been sentenced to 20 years.
Lewis contended he acted in self-defense when he shot Drake eight times, saying he believed the victim had a gun, said Assisant State’s Atty. Jeff Hickstein.
On May 19, Lewis, his girlfriend, their twin boys and another woman were sitting outside Lewis’ home when Drake walked up. After the two men talked, Drake walked down the street and sat in a car, Hickstein said. As Drake approached the house a second time, Lewis and the others went inside. Lewis, came back out with a gun and opened fire on Drake, Hickstein said.