Security Guard Sentenced to 21 Years for Killing Customer Over Fight About Face Mask
Los Angeles County CA October 30 2021
What started as a confrontation between a store security guard and a customer over a face mask covering request, ended in tragedy when the security guard shot the man.
Now, that former security guard has been sentenced to 21 years in state prison for killing the customer who entered a Gardena market without a face mask.
Umeir Corniche Hawkins, 39, of Gardena, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter for the July 5, 2020, shooting death of Jerry Lewis, according to Greg Risling of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Police said that the security guard and the customer got into a dispute over entering the store without wearing a face covering and that it escalated to the point of the security guard shooting Lewis.
The fight turned physical when Lewis returned to the store, Gardena police Lt. Christopher Cuff said shortly after the shooting. Afterward, Lewis was walking toward his vehicle when Hawkins shot him. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lewis, 50, entered the market in the 2300 block of Rosecrans Avenue without a mask and got into an argument with Hawkins.
Hawkins was initially charged with one count each of murder and possession of a firearm by a felon, but those charges were dismissed Tuesday, court records show.
Hawkins’ wife, Sabrina Carter, pleaded no contest to possession of a firearm by a felon and was sentenced to three years in state prison.
