Friends remember murdered church security guard

DETROIT (WXYZ) - “We need to be doing things that are changing and impacting the lives of young children and especially young men,“ says Pastor Sylvester Rowan.

That call to end the violence came on the very day an 84-year-old security guard shot and killed in a church parking lot was laid to rest.

Wayne County prosecutors are reviewing a warrant in the case.

We still don’t know exactly why Lewis was killed.

We do know he meant a whole lot to the west side neighborhood where people continue to remember him.

Wilhelmina Shumate, who works at Soultown Beauty Supply across from the church parking lot where Lewis was murdered last week, placed two roses on the church grounds Friday following Mr. Lewis' funeral.

“They sang Amazing Grace and it was just a beautiful funeral. I thought it was a beautiful home going for him,” says Enga Rowan of Victory Way Assembly.

The murder happened while Lewis was stationed outside the Victory Way Assembly on Tireman. Bible class was taking place inside. Church member Florence Bass was there and still can't believe what happened outside the church doors.

"Even when he had to stay a little longer, he was always willing to do that,” says Bass. “He never said he couldn't stay. He would always stay. And me being the church secretary, sometimes I would be late coming out on Sunday. He would be out there until I came out.”

Friends are wondering why his life was taken.

“It is something that we as a city need to make a decision that we're going to stand against this," says Pastor Rowan of Victory Way Assembly.

Mr. Lewis had guarded the church for decades.

He was a war veteran who will be remembered for his service to the country, his church and for being an upstanding member of the community.