Colorado Man Gets 57 Years After Shooting 2 Women When Told He Was Not The Father Of A Child

A Colorado man has now been sentenced to decades in prison after prosecutors say a domestic dispute turned into a deadly shooting inside an Aurora apartment that left one woman dead while she tried to protect her cousin.

34 year old Kelynn Lewis was sentenced to a total of 57 years in prison after being convicted in the 2024 shooting that killed 35 year old Vatrice Little and seriously injured his estranged wife, Deondranay McCain. According to prosecutors, the violence happened just hours after Lewis was told that he was not the biological father of one of the children he had been raising.

The shooting happened on February 9, 2024, inside an apartment in the 1700 block of Paris Street in Aurora, Colorado. Investigators say McCain and her cousin, Vatrice Little, were inside the apartment braiding each other’s hair when Lewis suddenly forced his way inside armed with a handgun.

Court documents stated that Lewis had moved out of the apartment months earlier, but tensions between the two had continued following the end of their relationship. Earlier that same day, McCain reportedly told Lewis that her youngest child was not biologically his, despite him believing for years that the child was his own.

According to investigators, Lewis entered the room, pointed the gun at McCain, and allegedly told her, “You think this was a game?” before firing toward her head.

McCain later told police she immediately dropped to the floor and pretended to be dead after the shot was fired. While she was lying on the ground, she reportedly watched her cousin Vatrice Little move in front of her in an apparent attempt to protect her.

Moments later, several more gunshots rang out.

Police say Little was struck multiple times in the face and upper body. She died at the scene before first responders could save her.

After the shooting, Lewis fled the apartment while McCain called 911. Four children ranging in age from 3 to 9 years old were reportedly inside the apartment during the attack.

Authorities launched a large manhunt involving Aurora Police homicide detectives, SWAT officers, K9 units, and fugitive teams. Lewis was arrested about 36 hours later after officers surrounded a residence near Jewell Avenue and Peoria Street.

During the trial, prosecutors described the killing as a violent act fueled by rage and betrayal. They argued that Vatrice Little died while trying to shield her family member from being murdered.

A jury eventually convicted Lewis of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, evidence tampering, and multiple counts of child abuse tied to the children being present during the shooting.

The judge sentenced Lewis to 42 years for the murder charge, 10 additional years for attempted murder, and another 5 years for tampering with evidence, bringing the combined sentence to 57 years behind bars. Prosecutors said the sentence ensures Lewis will likely spend the majority of his life in prison.

Family members described Vatrice Little as a devoted mother of four children whose life was taken while trying to save someone else. Prosecutors also called her actions courageous in the final moments before she was killed.

The case has continued drawing attention in Colorado because of the shocking details inside the apartment and the fact that multiple young children were present during the deadly attack.