Defense attorney Gene Fehr, right, stands next to Shamar Askew as he awaits his sentencing from Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay for a murder that occurred Feb. 28, 2021.

WARREN — A city man pleaded guilty Wednesday to murder charges in the 2021 drive-by shooting death of an 89 year-old-woman and matriarch to a family of five generations, some of whom appeared in court.

Shamar Askew, 19, was sentenced to 15 years to life by Judge W. Wyatt McKay after Askew pleaded guilty to an amended indictment. The charges were two counts of murder, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation and tampering with evidence.

The sentences will run concurrent to one another as Askew also will serve a mandatory five years due to committing a drive-by shooting. If paroled, Askew will be on parole for the rest of his life and also would have to register as a violent offender.

The victim, Ruth Lewis, 89, was sitting in her wheelchair Feb. 28, 2021, in the living room of 3178 Starlite Drive when she was struck in the back with a bullet.

It occurred as she was visiting on a Sunday with family members planning her son’s funeral. Her son, Conrad James Lewis, died of cardiac issues days earlier.

Several 911 calls were placed as witnesses heard five to 10 shots. One caller said a silver vehicle and a white sport utility vehicle were driving erratically toward Southern Boulevard when she heard the shots, a report states.

Askew was arrested March 10, 2021, in the back seat of a sedan that was parked outside a Commerce Street NW apartment. Detectives said they had been linking Askew to the slaying and learned from sources inside Lewis’ family that he would be at that location at the time. A weapon was never recovered.

In 1991, Lewis herself was charged in a fatal drive-by shooting. She pleaded guilty to one count of having weapons under disability.

Lewis and her late husband, Robert Lewis, founded R&R BBQ, and she operated the beauty shop Magic Mirror on Niles Road. She worked at Packard Electric for 15 years and had worked in construction.

Lewis was a mother of eight, with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren numbering around 150, her daughters said.

She was known to all as “Mama,” family members said.

One of her daughters, Patricia Lewis-Mallory, addressed Askew fighting through tears as she expressed sorrow for Askew.

Speaking about the youthfulness of Askew, she said, “I have young grandsons, sons and daughters myself, and I wouldn’t want any of them to be in this predicament.”

Mallory continued, “I pray for him — that he understands what he’s done,” Mallory said. “Because what he’s done can never be undone.”

She concluded by saying, “I’ll miss my mom for the rest of my life,” she said while also thanking the court for being considerate of her family throughout the legal proceedings.

Askew was given a chance to read a written statement, tight-lipped and glancing down at the paper as he stood next to his defense attorney Gene Fehr.

But, he was hesitant and ultimately declined to address the family.

His statement read: “I am Shamar … I am truly sorry for what happened. I know it wrong what I did. I was scared for my family’s life and my life. I only wanted to scare off the mob … not this. After you keep getting robbed and beat up all the time, it builds up with stress … feel sick. I want to talk to family to let yall know it was not supposed to be like this at all. Vonnie — Bro, I’m sorry. I know you. You know me. I know you got a lot going on, but if there is any chance of me seeing you again, I promise I’m always there for you,” Askew wrote.