A grocery store security guard and his wife were charged with murder in Los Angeles earlier this month after fighting with a 50-year-old man who entered the store without wearing a mask, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Umeir Hawkins, 38, and his wife, Sabrina Carter, 50, both of Los Angeles, were arrested in connection with the murder of Jerry Lewis of Gardena. Lewis was pronounced dead Sunday at a store in the 2300 block of Rosecrans Avenue.
Lewis was a popular 1990s rapper known by the alias Madd Head. His music is featured in the “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America” movie soundtrack. Jerica Hill, Lewis’ daughter said:
“It shouldn’t happen this way. My dad is not that type of person. He has a good heart.”
Police said Lewis was in the parking lot of the store waiting for a tow truck to repair a pair of flat tires on his vehicle. At some point, according to authorities, he entered the store without a mask and got into a verbal altercation with Hawkins, a security guard at the market, that turned physical.
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Prosecutors said Lewis left the store, returned and fought again with Hawkins.
During the second fight, police said Carter was in the parking lot, waiting for Hawkins to get off work. She intervened by pointing a handgun at Lewis and other customers.
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Lewis began walking away, toward his vehicle, and Hawkins pulled out another gun and fatally shot Lewis, prosecutors said. The couple were arrested a day later.
According to the prosecutors, both Hawkins and Carter were convicted in 2013 for assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. Hawkins has been charged with murder. Both he and his wife are also facing a count each of possession of a handgun by a felon.
Hawkins is being held on $1 million bail, and he faces a possible maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison. Bail was set at $35,000 for Carter, who faces three years in prison if convicted as charged.
The case remains under investigation by police. Anyone with information can contact Det. Ryan Sproles at (310) 217-9618 or Det. Dolores Searle at (310) 217-9654.
