Gang Member Sentenced to 40 Years for Fatal Shooting in Houston

Robert E. Chenier, a member of the 52 Hoover Crips, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of 37-year-old Shaun Lewis in Houston’s Clinton Park neighborhood in November 2020. The sentencing was announced by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

Chenier, 32, was convicted by a Harris County jury of murder after fatally shooting Lewis. The incident occurred after Chenier had a dispute with someone he knew and shot at a house in the 300 block of Cartersville Street. Lewis, who was not involved in the initial shooting, encountered Chenier on the street along with another individual.

During the confrontation, Chenier attempted to rob the pair and took a pistol from the other man. Despite Lewis raising his hands in compliance, Chenier shot him, inflicting wounds. As Lewis tried to flee, Chenier shot him in the head, resulting in his death. Chenier then took a photo of Lewis’s body.

Following the murder, Chenier boasted about his actions to several people. Houston Police Department investigators swiftly gathered evidence, leading to Chenier’s arrest and subsequent murder charges.

Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Marshall, who prosecuted the case, described the murder as “senseless and callous,” emphasizing Chenier’s lack of regard for human life.

The sentencing marks the end of Chenier’s reign of terror, with District Attorney Kim Ogg expressing gratitude to the jury for bringing justice to the victim’s family.