Two men accused of fatally shooting Jerry Lewis, a prominent West Side developer and investor, were ordered detained on March 27 following a pretrial hearing in the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
The case has drawn attention due to the public nature of the incident and the victim’s role in community investment projects. Prosecutors said that multiple police officers witnessed the killing as it occurred near Lewis’s office in the 2100 block of West Madison Street.
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara, Nassie Mason, 28, and Erving Harris, 31, exited a stolen Honda wearing latex gloves and dark clothing before approaching Lewis as he entered an adjacent office building. Pekara said Mason shot Lewis in the back of the head while Harris fired three more rounds into his body. “The entire community is in danger should these two individuals who essentially assassinated that victim be released into the community,” Pekara said during Friday’s hearing.
Pekara described the act as premeditated violence supported by witness testimony, police reports, and surveillance footage. An office secretary took shelter after witnessing Lewis fall to the ground and heard three additional shots. Police arrested Mason and Harris seconds after the shooting; shell casings found at the scene matched firearms recovered from both suspects. A machine gun conversion device was also discovered inside a paper bag in their vehicle.
Both defendants have prior convictions related to firearms offenses or parole violations. The Honda used had been reported stolen earlier this month with separate stolen license plates attached at time of arrest according to prosecutors.
A public defender argued against pretrial detention citing employment status and family commitments for both men but was unsuccessful. Mason and Harris are scheduled for another court appearance on April 14.
