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Teens Charged In Shooting Death Of Church Security Guard

DETROIT (WWJ) - Two young Detroiters have been ordered held without bond, charged in last month's shooting death of an 84-year-old security guard in a church parking lot.

Police said Joseph Lewis, Jr. was gunned down outside Victory Way Assembly Church of God in Christ on the evening of May 9 while Bible study was taking place inside.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Wednesday announced 18-year-old Alandre Boone and 15-year-old Anthony Williams are being charged with second-degree murder and felony firearm.

Each was ordered held without bond at an arraignment Wednesday afternoon in 36th District Court.

Detroit Police Inspector Dwayne Blackmon said Lewis was well-known in that community and that helped them solve the case.

"Everyone in the neighborhood knew the victim. He's been there for years and that was one of the things that we instramental in solving this case becsuse the community was really in outrage," Blackmon said.

Blackmon said they received several anonymous and even eyewitnesses came forward in the case.

Blackmon said police don't know yet what the motive might have been. There did not appear to have been a robbery.

The victim's son, Anthony Lewis, said he'd like to sit down with the two young men, along with their parents, to ask them why they did it.

"What made you do it? What was your intention? My father would have gave them money if they wanted it," said the younger Lewis.

He also expressed sympathy for the younger suspect's family.

"I lost an 84-year-old father. They're gonna lose a son that's 15 years old and he may be lost for many, many years," Lewis said. "Because when the justice system gets with him he's not gonna to be the same. Right now he thinks that he's a man, but when he gets in prison he's gonna understand that he's just a child."

Lewis was armed, but his gun was found in its holster.

A preliminary examination date was set for June 5.

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