Jerry L. Lewis, 67, was fatally shot on the Near West Side of Chicago on Tuesday afternoon, March 24, 2026, near Madison and Leavitt streets while waiting for building access. Lewis was a contractor and developer active in the 1901 Project and described by his wife Zandra as a loving husband, father, grandfather and mentor in the community. He was struck by multiple gunshots and died after being transported to Stroger Hospital.

Surveillance footage and witness accounts show two masked men lying in wait in a stolen Honda for about 90 minutes before approaching and shooting Lewis; two semi-automatic handguns were recovered. Six uniformed Chicago police officers in an unmarked vehicle witnessed the shooting and detained two suspects, identified as Nassie Mason, 28, and Erving Harris, 31, at the scene. Both men—who have prior firearm and other convictions, and Harris was reportedly on parole for an aggravated carjacking—were charged with first-degree murder and felony weapons possession and held without bond.

Authorities have not established a motive. Does anyone in the neighborhood or who knew Lewis have information about why he might have been targeted?