Ellen Barbara Lewis, a 20-year-old Black woman, was shot at very close range and killed in the early morning hours of December 17, 1983, inside room 521 of a Cheyney State University dormitory. The room was crowded, loud music and strobe lights made the scene chaotic, and court records state there were no eyewitnesses who actually saw the shooting occur. She was struck once in the head and died from the wound.

Investigation attention quickly turned to fellow student Rodney Lawrence Griffin. Witnesses placed Griffin in or near room 521 around the time of the shooting, said he had shown a handgun and bullets earlier that night, and at least one witness identified the murder weapon as the same gun Griffin had displayed. The weapon was later found outside the dormitory and linked to the killing.

Griffin was arrested April 17, 1984, convicted in October 1984 of first-degree murder and criminal conspiracy, and sentenced to death; his conviction was later upheld on appeal. Prosecutors said Ellen had been cooperating with a bank fraud investigation and would testify against Russell Wesley Moss, whom they alleged wanted her silenced. Moss was later implicated by Griffin and eventually charged in connection with arranging the killing, prosecutors said. If anyone knew Ellen, saw activity around the dormitory on December 17, 1983, or has information about those involved, please share what is known.