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…