A Texas man allegedly punched his defense attorney after receiving a 50-year prison sentence for murder. Jaquarius Lewis, 27, is accused of striking his lawyer, John Petruzzi, in the face on March 28 inside a Harris County courtroom.
Courtroom Chaos After Sentencing
Lewis had pleaded guilty to a fatal shooting in 2024. Facing a possible sentence ranging from five to 50 years, chaos erupted after the judge announced the maximum penalty. Petruzzi recounted the incident to Fox26, stating, 'At that point apparently, I was out. My client hit me in the face.' He added, 'People in the courtroom said I fell back in the chair, hit a counter and apparently fell to the ground.'
The attorney did not initially grasp the severity of the situation until he regained consciousness surrounded by emergency medical personnel. Someone in the courtroom later informed him of the alleged attack, leaving Petruzzi stunned. 'I was kind of shocked,' he said. 'I've done this a long time, and I've never had a client hit me before.'
Attorney's 46-Year Career
Petruzzi, who has represented hundreds of murder defendants over 46 years of legal practice, noted that nothing of this nature had ever occurred. Fortunately, he sustained no serious injuries. Lewis now faces an additional charge of injuring an elderly person, though it remains unclear whether this will extend his sentence.
Details of the Original Crime
The 27-year-old's sentencing stemmed from the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Quincy Johnson in Houston. According to the Houston Police Department, officers responded to a shots-fired call at 7959 Sunbury Street in April 2024. They found Johnson unresponsive in his apartment, and paramedics pronounced him dead from a gunshot wound.
Witnesses reported that Johnson was standing on his balcony when two male suspects walked by and shot him. Following an investigation and evidence collection, police released surveillance photos of both suspects. Acting on a tip, officers arrested Lewis the next day, identifying him as the shooter. The second male was questioned and released without charges.
