From Juvenile Offender to Murder Victim: The Tragic Tale of Drey Lewis in New Orleans

---

Early Life and Legal Troubles

Drey Lewis was born in 1993 and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the age of 15, he became entangled in a tragic event that would alter the course of his life. On January 17, 2009, Wendy Byrne, a 39-year-old bartender, was fatally shot during an attempted robbery in the French Quarter. Lewis, along with two other teenagers, Reggie Douglas and Ernest Cloud, was arrested in connection with the crime.

At the time of the incident, Lewis was on probation for a nonviolent property crime and was under electronic monitoring. Reports indicated that he had violated the terms of his probation multiple times, including failing to charge his ankle monitor and skipping school. Despite these violations, administrative delays prevented timely action to revoke his probation, allowing him to remain free at the time of Byrne's murder.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Following his arrest, Lewis faced charges related to Byrne's death. He eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced accordingly. After serving nearly eight years in prison, Lewis was released in September 2016.

Untimely Death

On March 27, 2017, just months after his release, 23-year-old Drey Lewis was shot and killed on Eastern Street in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Authorities reported that three gunmen opened fire, resulting in Lewis's death.

---

Share

---

Comments (0)

Leave A Comment