A Fort Wayne man charged in a 2023 shooting at a northeastern Indiana mall has pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness, avoiding a trial that was set to begin later this month. The incident left one person injured inside Glenbrook Square mall in September of last year.
Plea Deal Details
Quentin A. Lewis, 28, entered his guilty plea on Wednesday, one day before he was scheduled for a pretrial conference. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Lewis faces a three-year sentence. However, if an Allen County judge accepts the agreement, two years of the sentence will be suspended, meaning Lewis will serve just one year in prison. Following his release, he will be placed on active adult probation for two years.
The plea deal also includes provisions that prohibit Lewis from contacting the shooting victim and require him to undergo an evaluation for alcohol, substance abuse, and psychological issues. He may also be subject to fines and court costs as part of the sentencing, which is scheduled for September 26.
Incident Background
The shooting occurred in September 2023 at Glenbrook Square in Fort Wayne, located approximately 120 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The altercation escalated after tensions between Lewis and the victim over comments Lewis had made about a woman and her children at a local barbershop days before the shooting.
The altercation led to a confrontation at the mall, where Lewis shot the victim, leaving the man with a gunshot wound to the leg. Lewis was subsequently arrested and charged.
Next Steps
If the plea deal is accepted, Lewis will serve his one-year sentence and face two years of probation. The agreement also seeks to ensure that he does not have any further contact with the victim and addresses any underlying issues related to substance abuse or mental health.
