LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland man will spend the next three decades in federal prison following his sentencing by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle. Taqiy Lewis, 29, received a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty on March 2, 2026, to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe announced the final ruling.
The federal charges trace back to December 24, 2020. Around 5:30 p.m. that evening, a 70-year-old woman, identified in court records as Maebelle Cooper, was standing outside her Lakeland home with her family and young grandchildren.
According to court documents, Lewis and several other individuals engaged in a shootout directly outside the property. Cooper was struck twice by gunfire and died from her injuries. Three other individuals, including a 13-year-old, were also shot and wounded during the incident.
The weapon used in the shootout remained missing for over two years. On February 9, 2023, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside officers from the Lakeland Police Department executed a search warrant during an unrelated investigation. During the search, they recovered a Kahr CM9 9mm pistol.
Forensic investigators ran the pistol through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). The digital ballistics database confirmed the handgun was the exact weapon used in the 2020 fatal shooting. Investigators matched six casings found at the crime scene, two spent projectiles recovered from the home, and the bullet recovered from Cooper’s body to the Kahr CM9 pistol possessed by Lewis.
Because of prior felony convictions, Lewis was legally prohibited from carrying or owning firearms and ammunition at the time of the gunfire. Court records show that following the incident, Lewis secured a fraudulent alibi and had the sandals and jacket he wore during the shootout burned inside a barrel.
While the federal weapons sentence has been finalized, Lewis remains under active investigation by state law enforcement agencies for his role in causing Cooper’s death.
The multi-agency investigation involved the ATF, the Lakeland Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diego F. Novaes handled the prosecution for the government.
READ: 40 Years For 244 Kilos: Texas Man Slaloms From High-Speed Chase Straight Into Federal Prison
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
