Man sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing Seattle activist Elijah Lewis
Man sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing Seattle activist Elijah Lewis
The man convicted of killing Seattle activist Elijah Lewis and injuring his young nephew was sentenced to 35 years Friday afternoon at the King County Courthouse.
SEATTLE - The man convicted of killing Seattle activist Elijah Lewis and injuring his young nephew has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Patrick Cooney was sentenced Friday afternoon at the King County Courthouse. He faced possible life in prison.
A jury found Cooney guilty earlier this year of second-degree murder and first-degree assault in connection with a 2023 road rage incident.
The backstory:
Lewis, who was 23 at the time, was driving his 9-year-old nephew to a monster truck rally at Lumen Field on April 1, 2023, when he was shot and killed on Capitol Hill. The child was also shot and wounded.
Lewis was known in the community as an entrepreneur and for his activism in protests against police brutality and gun violence.
"He was more than a person, he was our promise," Elijah’s sister said in court.
Elijah Lewis (FOX 13 Seattle)
"I miss Elijah terribly, his contagious smile, his laughter, his bear hugs, his tenacity, his life coaching sessions to challenge me to be the best version of myself," Elijah’s mom said.
During the trial, Cooney’s defense team argued he acted in self-defense, claiming Lewis swerved his car toward Cooney, who was riding a rented scooter. Prosecutors said Cooney, 37, had a history of road rage and overreacted to what they described as a minor traffic encounter.
"Instead of the world having a man who did everything in his power to improve marginalized communities, it will have you," Elijah’s sister said in court as she addressed Cooney.
Cooney wept as his mother addressed the courtroom.
"It makes me so sad he will spend time in prison, I hope he will be released in my lifetime," Cooney’s mom said in court.
Now, Cooney will spend the next 35 years of his life behind bars.
Remembering Seattle community leader Elijah Lewis
A young man whose death is leaving a huge hole in his community is Elijah Lewis. In April, he was shot, along with his 9-year-old nephew in Capitol Hill while the two were heading to a monster truck show. Police say his nephew was hit, but survived, because Lewis used his body to shield him from the bullets.
The Source: Information in this story came from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle.
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