From The Times Tribune -
A Michigan man pleaded guilty on Monday morning March 2, 2020 to charges he faced for attempting to rob a Knox County business before fatally shooting a bystander in January 2019.
26 year old Phillip Lee Lewis, appeared in Knox County Circuit Court for his final pretrial conference on Monday prior to his scheduled jury trial set to begin Tuesday.
Lewis was charged with murder, first-degree robbery and second-degree persistent felony offender. After his guilty pleas for the charges, the Commonwealth's Attorney has recommended Lewis to serve his sentences concurrently for a total of 35 years.
Lewis was indicted in Knox County in March 2019 charging him with murder and first-degree robbery. Lewis was also indicted in November 2019 charging him with second-degree persistent felony offender. Lewis has been convicted for a prior felony: burglary of a vehicle in Union County, Mississippi.
On Jan. 16, 2019, Lewis entered the A&B Quick Stop off US 25E in the Gray community, where he brandished a gun and pointed it at the store’s clerk in an attempt to rob the store, according to a Kentucky State Police report.
25 year old Gary Medlin, of Barbourville, who was a bystander inside the store, attempted to flee when Lewis shot Medlin multiple times. Lewis then fled the scene on foot, according to the report. Medlin was pronounced dead at the scene by the Knox County Coroner’s office.
Lewis remained on the run from police for several weeks, eventually being arrested Feb. 8, 2019, in Flint, Michigan, by a task force comprised of the Michigan State Police, U.S. Marshals and FBI. He was held in Michigan until being extradited back to Kentucky.