SELLERSBURG, Ind. — A Sellersburg man has been convicted for shooting and killing his wife while two children were in the house.
The jury found Mac Lewis guilty of shooting and killing Elizabeth Bennett Lewis in their Sellersburg home on April 1, 2022.
Attorney Jeremy Mull said Lewis had loaded a gun inside his truck on April 1 after Elizabeth had asked for divorce. that's when he said Lewis shot the gun inside their home.
Police said Elizabeth's 11-year-old daughter, Tinsley, witnessed the shooting and called 911 for help. Authorities have also said her 10-year-old friend was at the house too.
"And in her little girl scream, she said 'get out of my house! Leave!'" Mull said. "And how did he respond? He pointed a gun at her, pulled the trigger and put a bullet towards right where she was standing. And it hit right where she was standing."
Mull said this moment still haunts Tinsley to this day.
However, the defense argued Lewis didn't intentionally fire the gun at Elizabeth and her daughter. Attorney Mitch Harlan said Lewis was holding the gun to his head when Elizabeth tried to stop him.
After struggling, Harlan said the gun accidentally went off in her direction, then Lewis shot two more rounds inside the house out of anger.
"That sounds like somebody who was not knowingly trying to to hurt anyone, but committed reckless conduct, and tried to make it as right as he could after the fact," he said.
Since then, Harlan has said Lewis has expressed remorse, stating Lewis has said things like "it should have been me."
In addition to murder, the jury found Lewis guilty of attempted murder, firearm enhancement and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. A major verdict that left prosecutors and Elizabeth's loved ones overwhelmed with joy.
"After 18 months of absolute hell, this is the first day of justice for our beautiful daughter, their mom , our two grandchildren and emery who endured this tragedy," Elizabeth's father, Tony Bennet said.
"Mr. Lewis tried to make this trial about the fact that Lizzy had somehow caused her own death by wrestling over the gun. And I asked the jury to firmly and soundly reject that notion and they did," Mull said.
Lewis now faces more than 100 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 1.
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