A 19-year-old Baltimore man pleaded guilty on Jan. 5 to six firearm violations in connection to the murder of 15-year-old John Lewis Jr., which occurred early last May in East Baltimore’s Belair-Edison neighborhood.
Defendant Zion Wimbish pleaded guilty to three counts of having a handgun in a vehicle and three conspiracy charges, risking a maximum penalty of up to 30 years behind bars. However, noting the defendant’s remorse and gratitude toward the teenaged victim’s grieving family, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton ultimately imposed a shorter sentence of 25 years, suspending all but eight.
Judge Middleton also granted defense attorney Roya M. Hanna’s request to refer Wimbish to the Patuxent Youth Program, a rehabilitative initiative aimed at aiding incarcerated adults younger than 21. Upon completion of his sentence, Wimbish will be required to serve five years of supervised probation and register as a gun offender.
Multiple friends and members of Wimbish’s family were present in the courtroom. Lewis’ parents and sister also attended, and several impact statements and character affidavits from both parties were presented before the court prior to sentencing.
Lewis’ mother addressed Wimbish tearfully, describing the grief her family grappled with in the wake of her young son’s death and inviting Wimbish to reflect on her loss as a new father himself.
“This is not a pain I would wish upon you, even after taking my child,” she said through tears. “I’m still learning to think about him without crying.”
She noted her son enjoyed cooking and that the two often shared in the hobby together. In the wake of her son’s death, her daughter also began struggling with depression, she said.
“I came in this courtroom not knowing what to say,” she concluded. “But may God be with me, you and our families.”
Counsel agreed that no allegations had been raised during the investigation that Wimbish discharged a gun the night of Lewis’ death. The state had previously agreed to drop Wimbish’s remaining ten charges, which included two counts of first-degree murder.
Hanna noted Wimbish cooperated with officers upon his arrest, advising detectives that the shooting unfolded when an argument escalated between Lewis and one of Wimbish’s two co-defendants, 20-year-old Ra’Shawn Smith, in the backseat of a silver 2023 Mazda CX-5. Earlier that day, Smith had reportedly asked Wimbish to give him and their third co-defendant, 35-year-old Rodsheead Alexander, a ride to an illegal gun deal with Lewis near the 3500 block of Brehms Lane.
“I raised him to know right from wrong,” Wimbish’s mother told the court. “I know that if he knew who he was giving a ride to, he would’ve said, ‘No.’”
Neither mother was able to prepare a written statement, with both admitting difficulties in finding the appropriate words to contain their thoughts. Wimbish’s grandmother and Lewis’ father also took the opportunity to address the court.
“I may look like I’m strong,” said Lewis’ father. “But the pain, it tears me up from the inside.”
As proceedings drew to a close, Wimbish addressed the court too, facing Lewis’ family as he spoke.
“I never really got to meet John. I’m still learning stuff about him. I never knew he cooked. I never knew he had a sister,” said Wimbish. “I think of your son every single day. I think of your son when I wake up, when I close my eyes. I dream about him.”
A father to a newborn himself, Wimbish asserted the incident should never have occurred and offered repeated apologies.
“When you go see the others, I hope they apologize to you as well,” he said, referring to his co-defendants. “This was not right.”
Hanna called Wimbish “an ambitious young man” and “one of the most unusual people I’ve ever met,” describing a deep dedication to his faith and a tendency toward helping others—both traits to which his mother and grandmother also attested.
Judge Middleton weighed in, acknowledging the tragedy of the situation and observing both Lewis and Wimbish were “just babies” when the fatal shooting occurred. She found Wimbish uniquely remorseful, pointing out how the defendant allocated most of his speech to addressing the circumstances of Lewis’ death and his family’s subsequent grief, rather than attempting to absolve himself.
“I do see something different in Mr. Wimbish,” said Judge Middleton. “It just speaks volumes of him.”
To appeal Wimbish’s sentence, defense counsel must submit a modification request within ten days.
