FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A second suspect has been arrested in connection to the shooting death of a 2-year-old child in Federal Way in April.
Federal Way police identified the second suspect as 31-year-old Jerome Lewis. He was arrested in California on Tuesday, Dec. 18, for a first-degree murder warrant.
In April earlier this year, officers responded to reports of a shooting outside of a restaurant in the 100 block of Southwest Campus Drive. When officers arrived, they discovered several cartridge casings from two different firearms but no victims.
Minutes later, St. Francis Hospital called 911 to report that a 2-year-old child had been brought into the emergency room with a gunshot wound to the head.
The boy, identified as SynSyr Lewis, was transferred to Harborview Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.
In an interview with police, SynSyr's father said he was waiting in the parking lot for his wife, who worked nearby, with his 1 and 2-year-old children in the car. He said a light-colored vehicle then pulled up in front of his car, and suddenly, a figure got out and began shooting. Court documents state the suspect fired 15 shots through the front windshield.
The child's father said he attempted to push his children down as he fell to the floor. He then exited the vehicle and returned fire at the suspect as the suspect fled the scene. He then noticed that his 2-year-old had been shot and rushed to the hospital.
The first suspect, 17-year-old Jayson Jack, is a relative of the 2-year-old victim. He was 16 at the time of the shooting and he was arrested in October. He has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. He is currently in jail with bail set at $5 million.
As police continued to investigate, they identified the second suspect, Jerome Lewis. His bail is set at $3 million and he is in jail in Alameda, California, awaiting extradition to Washington, according to police.
Federal Way police did not say how or if Lewis is related to the 2-year-old boy.