Daniel Lewis, a 27-year-old father of two with no criminal record and a permit to carry a concealed weapon, was fatally shot by police in South Florida under circumstances that have left many unanswered questions.
On May 31, Lewis, the son of a retired New York City police officer, was shot five times in the backyard of his Miami Gardens home. This incident occurred during a joint operation between Miami Gardens police and ATF agents aimed at combating gun violence, according to reports.
The events leading to Lewis’s death began when unmarked law enforcement vehicles started following his cousins and sister as they drove through their neighborhood. Feeling threatened, they rushed into their backyard. Lewis, inside the home, went to see what was happening with his gun. Within moments of stepping outside, he was shot and killed.
Lewis’s family, represented by their attorneys, disputes the police version of events. They claim Lewis did not fire his gun, despite police alleging he shot at them first. His mother, Angela Lewis, spoke at a press conference demanding answers and justice for her son.
Over a month after the shooting, there are still many uncertainties. Police have not disclosed crucial details, such as the identity of the person they were seeking or whether Lewis fired his weapon. The family’s attorneys plan to file a lawsuit, arguing that Lewis, who they say was defending his home, should not have been killed in this manner.
The case has sparked outrage and calls for transparency as the community seeks to understand why this tragedy occurred and whether proper procedures were followed by law enforcement that night.