23-year-old Tyshawn Yates, who was charged with shooting 20 year old Devon Lewis of Benton Harbor in the stomach during an argument over $3 lost in a dice game, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. At his sentencing Monday morning, Judge Angela Pasula scolded Yates for even possessing a handgun while he was on probation, among his other violations.
“It’s obvious that you felt the rules didn’t apply to you, so you possessed, you carried, you concealed that handgun,” Pasula said.
There were no victim statements from Lewis’ family, but prosecuting attorney Steve Pierangeli listed some of the consequences of the incident.
“Now you have a very young child who doesn’t have a father anymore,” Pierangeli told the judge, referring to Lewis’ daughter. “And the reason she doesn’t have a father, is because her uncle took his life.”
Lewis died of his injuries on June 26th. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office says Yates later turned himself in. He was convicted of first degree murder, among other charges, and found guilty by a trial jury last month. As he was escorted out of the courtroom, Yates indicated to his family members in attendance that he plans to file for an appeal.
