Michael Alvin Lewis

Michael Alvin Lewis, a 37-year-old Black man known for his love of cooking and his vibrant personality, was remembered by his family as the life of the party. A chef who had worked in several downtown Macon restaurants, Michael was known to cook slowly but with great care. His mother, Millicent Phillips, and sister, Takeysha Lewis, recalled his passion for food with a mix of joy and sorrow. His family’s world was shattered on the evening of January 20, 2020, when Michael became the first homicide victim of the year in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia.

Around 9:30 p.m. that Monday, residents on Oak Hill Court in a quiet North Macon neighborhood heard several gunshots. One resident stepped outside their home at 771 Oak Hill Court and made a devastating discovery on the front lawn: a man who had been shot multiple times. The victim was soon identified as Michael Lewis. Bibb County Chief Coroner Leon Jones pronounced him dead at the scene. Investigators from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office learned that Michael was an acquaintance of the person who lived at the home and that they had known each other for a long time.

The investigation into Michael's death began immediately. On February 6, 2020, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help in locating 27-year-old Quinterious Javon Byrd of Macon, identifying him as a person of interest whom they wanted to question. Authorities noted that Byrd was known to frequent the east Macon area and had relatives in Monroe County. Despite releasing his photograph, months passed with no sign of him. Michael's family, particularly his father, Alvin Lewis, remained in constant contact with detectives, determined not to let the case go cold.

More than a year later, a strange turn of events brought a potential break in the case. On June 8, 2021, Quinterious Byrd was arrested in the parking lot of a food mart on Main Street on unrelated charges, including multiple drug offenses, possession of a firearm, and theft by receiving. However, the sheriff's office had no system in place to flag a person of interest, and the lead investigator on Michael’s case was unaware that the man they had been searching for was now in their custody. It was Michael's father, Alvin Lewis, who saw news of Byrd's arrest and called the detective to inform him. "He had to check, he didn't know," Alvin Lewis later said.

The discovery that Byrd was in jail allowed investigators the chance to finally question him about Michael's murder. Alvin Lewis expressed relief that Byrd had not been able to make bail and disappear again before detectives had a chance to speak with him. Despite being questioned, however, Quinterious Javon Byrd was never charged in connection with the killing of Michael Alvin Lewis. The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that he remained the only person of interest in the case.

Years later, the investigation remains open and active, but no arrests have been made for Michael's murder. His family continues to endure the agonizing wait for justice. "Not only did they take my son, they crushed my heart," his mother, Millicent Phillips, said. His father, who received the terrible news of his son's death by phone even before detectives could arrive at his door, remains a steadfast advocate for the case. "I'm not giving up on that, that's my child," Alvin Lewis stated, convinced that people in the community know what happened that night. The family waits, hoping someone will come forward and finally bring them the answers and accountability they deserve.

Anyone with information about the murder of Michael Alvin Lewis is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.