WEST PALM BEACH, FL Oct 27 2008 It didn't take long for emotions to spill over in court as 17-year-old Shane Brown made his first appearance in court Monday morning.
Brown is charged in the death of 38-year-old Kenneth Lewis. Lewis's brother, Tevares, lost his temper and charged Brown, striking him in the head before deputies were able to step in.
Police say Lewis was beaten up by several individuals who were with Brown Saturday. When the victim collapsed, he was run over by an on-coming car, killing him.
The courtroom commotion caused a 10-minute delay. Tevares Lewis was taken into custody and charged with battery. The rest of his family was escorted out before Brown was brought back in.
"He put his life first, he worked so hard for everything he got, for someone like that to come and just take everything he worked so hard for away in an instant he didn't deserve to die like that," says Lewis's sister, Sonia.
Lewis's sister was the only one who was allowed to stay in court. She's been overwhelmed with grief but says she had no idea her younger brother would react in such a violent way.
"I wouldn't have ever brought him if I feared it would even take place out all due respect for him," says Sonia Lewis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- The brother of a man who was killed this weekend is now under arrest after he punched a suspect at a court appearance Monday morning at the Palm Beach County Jail.
A NewsChannel 5 camera was rolling Monday morning as the brother of Kenneth Lewis punched 17-year-old Shane Brown during Brown's first appearance in front of a judge.
Police say Kenneth Lewis, a father of seven from Port St. Lucie, was attacked outside of a convenience store at the corner of Avenue S and West 29th Street in Riviera Beach Saturday evening by six men.
The beating, they claim, left Lewis, an exterminator at Nozzle Nolen, unconscious in the street.
Byron Williams, an employee at Sam's Discount Market, told NewsChannel 5 he called 9-1-1 and ran outside after the beating. "A couple seconds later, a car was turning the corner...never seen the guy laying there and ran right over him."
Witnesses say the car dragged Lewis several feet before the driver stopped.
Williams tells NewsChannel 5, "The driver was nervous... he was asking why no one stood with him so no one would hit him."
Police gave the driver of the silver Pontiac a traffic ticket but didn't blame him for Lewis' death.
They say the six attackers are responsible.
Police arrested 17-year-old Shane Brown, charging him with manslaughter and simple battery.
Among the five others police are still searching for in connection with Lewis' death is Riviera Beach resident, Tim Hayward.
Police say they've received a few tips but are relying on the public to help them catch the five attackers still at large.
It is unclear whether Brown was injured during Monday's scuffle in the courtroom. Deputies say Lewis' brother will face battery charges.
A judge set Brown's bond at $51,000 and ordered him on house arrest.
