Man gets 20 years after pleading guilty to being an armed habitual offender

RANTOUL TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WAND) - A man who was arrested for attempted murder and other charges after officials said he fired shots at two Champaign County deputies has pleaded guilty to being an armed habitual offender.

Around midnight December 3, two deputies were on routine patrol when they saw a vehicle going at a high rate of speed south on Route 45 at 2500N near Thomasboro.

The deputies followed the vehicle, preparing to conduct a traffic stop when multiple shots were fired at their marked patrol vehicle from the suspect's vehicle.

Champaign County Deputy Taylor Doege and Deputy Chelsea Keyes were in the vehicle the shots were fired at. During her court testimony Deputy Keyes recalled the moments after hearing the shots.

"I kind of looked at Taylor and was like is that what I think it was and he looked at me the same way. I confirmed with him and he seen a muzzle flash pointed in our direction and he seen someone lean out the driver side of the vehicle."

The deputies chased the suspect as he travelled south on Rt. 45, west on Interstate 74, north on Prospect Ave. and west on Olympian Dr.

The suspect, Lawrence Paul Lewis, 27, of Champaign, lost control and crashed at the intersection of Olympian and Boardwalk in Champaign. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Deputies said Lewis tried to run away from the crash but was caught and arrested on preliminary charges of attempted murder, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies said they found an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun. They also found a bullet “drum magazine” that significantly increases the bullet capacity for a firearm (can generally hold 50-100 bullets).

An additional handgun was located just outside of the vehicle.

The deputies were not hit by the gunfire.

The judge heard evidence of Lewis' criminal background that stemmed back more than a decade. He was convicted of Domestic Battery and other drug charges. Assistant State's Attorney Lindsey Clark-Rivest asked the judge for a maximum sentence of 20 years.

"For the other gun toting criminals old and young who are on our streets right now to know that something will be done to them if they go down the same path."

In December 2020 Lewis was arrested on Murder charges and Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm. Those charges were dismissed and he pleaded guilty to Armed Habitual Criminal. Amber Oberheim, 703 Peacemaker Project, was in the audience on Wednesday. She expressed her concern with the murder charges being dismissed.

"It is one step in the right direction to holding criminals accountable, but it's concerning to me that the offense he pled guilty to had nothing to do with firing a gun at officers and that is part of our problem."

In court, Deputy Chelsey Keyes offered the following statement regarding the case against Lewis:

"I would like to take note of the amount of police officers in this courtroom. Taylor and I may be the only victims allowed to speak here today but each and every one of these law enforcement officers and their families are victims as well, along with hundreds more who are not present. This type of incident leaves a wake of fear and worry in the minds of husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, children, and so on that is impossible to measure or represent in a court room, although I am extremely grateful for the effort shown here today to do just that.

"Your honor, the community I love, and the reason I decided on this career many years ago, is going through a difficult time. Champaign County is plagued by unprecedented gun violence and a disrespect for law and order. Following this shooting I was shot at a second time three months later. Three months after that tragedy struck this community when Officer Jeff Creel was shot and we lost Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim to gun violence. I do not want the future of Champaign County to mirror it’s recent past; and we all play a part in preventing that. I ask that you set an example today and let it be known that this kind of blatant disregard for life can not be tolerated in a civilized society. Let the would be criminal of tomorrow see that picking up a gun and treating it like a toy is not worth it. Let the would be police applicant, that we so desperately need, read the paper tomorrow and see that cops are respected here.

"Your honor, many police officers risked their safety to bring Mr. Lewis before you today. I ask that you make our sacrifices and our families sacrifices worthwhile and sentence Mr. Lewis to the maximum 20 years."