Headline Surfer photo illustration / Two Sanford teen lives ruined: One dead and the other now incarcerated.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
SANFORD, Fla. -- A 16-year-old is incarcerated on homicide (murder) charges in Wednesday's shooting of an older teen in the head, Sanford cops said.
Artavious Quarterman died on Thursday as a result of injuries sustained in the shooting the day before allegedly by Connor Michael Lewis (D.O.B. 03/15/2004), who has since had his charghes upgraded to one count of second degree homicide and one count of shooting Into or throwing deadly missiles within a dwelling.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred as described in an email media alert to Headline Surfer by Sanford PD spokeswoman Tammy Townsend: On August 5, just after 8 p.m., Sanford Police received a 9-1-1 call from Lewis, stating multiple females were banging on the front door of his house.
Throughout the 9-1-1 call, Lewis is heard responding back to the individuals at the door with “Oh, you’re so scary. You’re so scary.” Lewis then explained to the dispatcher that he and his girlfriend were in a verbal argument, and he told her to get out of the house. He said that his girlfriend’s family had come to his house and were now outside banging on the door and window. The individuals outside can be heard calling Lewis names, to which Lewis responds “okay.” A single gunshot is then heard.
Based on the investigation, it was determined that Artavious Quarterman had accompanied the mother of Lewis’s girlfriend to Lewis’s home. They were going to the house to pick up Lewis’s girlfriend and her belongings after she was involved in an earlier dispute with Lewis. The family and friends of Lewis’s girlfriend were knocking on the doors and windows of the house in an attempt to retrieve the remainder of the girlfriend’s possessions that were inside the home.
In the course of this interaction, one round from a gun was fired from the inside of the home, through the window on the front door, striking Artavious Quarterman in the head. Artavious was transported to the hospital where he remained in life threatening condition. But the next day he died.
In the course of this interaction, one round from a gun was fired from the inside of the home, through the window on the front door, striking Artavious Quarterman in the head. Artavious was transported to the hospital where he remained in life threatening condition. But the next day he died.
Lewis was arrested initially on charges of attempted second degree homicide and shooting Into or throwing deadly missiles within a dwelling. But those charged were upgraded when the older teen succumbed to the injuries.
Anyone with information are asked to contact the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimeline.org. Calls made to Crimeline remain anonymous, and tips to Crimeline that lead to solving a felony case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000.
Henry Frederick is publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched 12 years ago that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed more than a hundred journalism industry awards in print & online -- more than than all other members of the working press combined in Central Florida since the mid-1990s. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism with academic honors from Full Sail University in 2019. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary programs on Discovery ID and Reelz for his investigative reporting and cops & courts breaking news stories.