March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 46 F

Police make arrest in Halloween murder

 

Gregory Dontae Lewis
Gregory Dontae Lewis

On October 31, 2013, at approximately 7:45 p.m.., officers from the Western District responded to a parking lot in the 7400 block of Railroad Avenue in Harmans for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers and fire personnel located a male victim in his 40’s suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body. The victim was initially being transported to an area trauma center, but was then transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Investigators from the Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed responsibility for the investigation. Preliminary investigation indicated that this was a targeted incident. It appears the male suspect and the male victim met up at this location. During the encounter, the suspect displayed a gun and shot the victim in the upper body in an apparent attempted robbery. A male witness, who was accompanying the victim, fled from the scene unharmed. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown vehicle. The victim was identified as 44-year-old Rene Filsfdelfo Leiva-Archila of Baltimore.

UPDATE:

During the last several months, Anne Arundel County Homicide Detectives worked tirelessly sorting through mounds of evidence. Evidence was pieced together from the crime scene coupled with multiple forensic examinations of evidence secured from search warrants and a suspect was identified in the homicide/robbery of Mr. Archila.

In working in conjunction with the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, on Friday, March 7, 2014, an Anne Arundel County Grand Jury indicted Gregory Dontae Lewis, 34, of 700 Block Cecil Avenue North Unit 2, Millersville, Maryland, with the following:

  • Count One: First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, and Manslaughter
  • Count Two: Armed Robbery
  • Count Three: Use of a Firearm in a Felony
  • Count Four: Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence
  • Count Five:  Possession of a Shotgun after having been Convicted of a Crime of  Violence

On Friday, March 7, 2014, at 11:11 a.m., Detectives from the Special Enforcement Section located Gregory Lewis in a parking lot in the 7000 block of Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Lewis was taken into custody without incident. The investigation revealed Gregory Lewis lured Mr. Archila to the 7400 block of Railroad Avenue in Harmans as a ruse to a fictional Craigslist Ad to purchase a car. During the apparent robbery attempt, Gregory Lewis shot and killed Mr. Archila.

As the investigation continues to unfold we urge anyone with information on this incident to contact Detective Vince Carbonaro of the Homicide Unit at 410-222-3566 or Metro Crime Stoppers. Citizens arranging to purchase items online through Craigslist or through other online advertisements should remember the following safety tips:

  • Prior to meeting an online seller, get a name and telephone number
  • When responding to a location to buy an online item, park in a high traffic area, preferably during daylight hours and have an adult witness accompany you
  • Prior to meeting the seller, tell family and friends where you are going and the time you plan to meet
  • Keep a cell phone nearby
  • If it seems too good to be true from the beginning, it probably is. Trust your gut

“This case took several months and highlights both the dedication and the patience on the part of detectives who continued to vigorously pursue every piece of evidence and information until and indictment was secured”, said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis. “I am extremely proud of the work these detectives did and remain grateful for our partnership with Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office who we collaborated with throughout this lengthy case.”

“It is because of the close partnership my office has with the Anne Arundel County Police Department that we can move forward in this matter from the initial investigation to charging and now on to prosecution in the homicide of Mr. Archila”, said Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “The ability of my office and the Police Department to work as a team in preparing a case of this magnitude is invaluable.”

Source: AACoPD

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