The fatal Christmas Eve 2020 shooting in Lakeland, Florida, resulted in federal charges and a federal prison sentence.
Key Case Details
- The Incident: Around 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2020, a drive-by shootout occurred outside a home on Amos Avenue in Lakeland. The shooting stemmed from an earlier confrontation after a teenager was robbed during a attempt to buy an iPhone at a park.
- The Victims: 70-year-old Maebelle Cooper, who had arrived to make gingerbread houses with her family, was shot twice in the chest and killed. Three family members—her daughter, son-in-law, and 13-year-old granddaughter—were also wounded.
- The Break in the Case: The case went cold until 2023, when Lakeland Police and ATF agents executed a search warrant in an unrelated investigation and recovered a 9mm pistol from the home of Taqiy Lewis. Forensic testing (NIBIN) matched the gun to six shell casings from the crime scene, spent bullets at the house, and the projectile recovered from Cooper.
Legal Outcome
- Federal Conviction & Sentence: Lewis was charged federally as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in connection with the shooting. He pleaded guilty in March 2026 and was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
- Ongoing State Investigation: While federal charges resulted in a 30-year sentence, state law enforcement authorities continue to investigate Lewis regarding homicide charges in Cooper’s death.
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