Mother of murdered Brooklyn teen criticizes judge for allowing delayed sentencing for her child’s killer.

The ongoing saga surrounding the tragic murder of 17-year-old Davonte Lewis continues to elicit strong reactions from his family and the community. In a recent ruling by Kings County Supreme Court Justice Matthew Blum, Quran Smith, one of the three individuals convicted in connection with Lewis’s death, received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. However, the judge’s decision to allow Smith to complete a college course before beginning his incarceration has sparked significant outrage, particularly from Lewis’s mother, Carlene Watt.

Justice Blum’s ruling, issued on Thursday, reflects a negotiated plea agreement that grants Smith a brief reprieve from his impending prison term. The court reasons that Smith has taken steps toward rehabilitation, thereby justifying the delay of his sentence until June 27. The judge noted the severity of the crime and acknowledged the loss of Lewis’s life at such a young age but ultimately decided to prioritize Smith’s educational endeavors.

In response to the ruling, Watt expressed her disapproval, questioning the logic behind granting leniency to someone responsible for her son’s murder. She firmly believes that any individual capable of committing such a heinous act is unlikely to experience genuine reform. Watt went so far as to assert her belief that Smith should have immediately begun serving his sentence, emphasizing that well-intentioned gestures of mercy are misplaced in this context.

Smith’s sentencing marked the conclusion of legal proceedings for all three defendants involved. The court previously sentenced Malachi Simms, 19, to 14 years to life and Frantzy Alexandre, 20, to a 10-year term. All three men were affiliated with the Folk No Love City gang, which, according to prosecutors, played a crucial role in the actions leading to Lewis’s death.

The incident, which occurred on April 29, 2021, involved a brazen daytime shooting outside the Urban Dove Charter School in Brooklyn. Surveillance footage captured the three assailants ambushing Lewis as he was leaving school, with investigators asserting that Smith and Simms were the shooters, while Alexandre facilitated the process by passing a firearm.

Lewis’s death has also been attributed to igniting long-standing tensions between rival street gangs in the area, a narrative that has angered Watt, who denies her son’s gang involvement. She has criticized the Brooklyn District Attorney’s characterization of her son as a catalyst for gang violence, accusing authorities of exploiting his death for their own narrative.

As the case unfolds, community members continue to grapple with the implications of gang violence and the criminal justice system’s responses to such tragic events. The emotional toll on victims’ families and the societal impact of these crimes remain critical topics in discussions surrounding public safety and justice in Brooklyn.