Man Attempted to Murder Wife Upon Discovering Child Was Not His
A man from Colorado was apprehended for attempting to murder his estranged wife after discovering he was not the biological father of one of their children. In the process, he fatally shot a relative of his wife who intervened.
Kelynn Lewis received a sentence of 57 years in prison on Monday, May 18, for second-degree murder and attempted murder after being found guilty of attacking his wife and her cousin, Vatrice Little, in February 2024.
The conflict erupted when Lewis’ wife, Deandranay McCain, sent him a text revealing that he was not the biological father of one of their children, as per a press release from the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announcing the verdict.
“Lewis replied with a threat to kill her when he next saw her,” the release noted. “Later that day, Lewis entered the apartment building of his estranged wife, forced his way in, and headed to her bedroom. He aimed a handgun at her and opened fire.”
Little intervened to shield McCain, as Lewis discharged his weapon five times. Meanwhile, McCain “played dead” by falling to the floor, which ultimately helped her survive.
“The defendant came to murder someone else—essentially committing a revenge crime for news he didn’t like—and inadvertently killed Vatrice Little in the process,” said District Attorney Brian Mason regarding the incident, per Law & Crime. “This was a brutal, brutal murder, and Little’s death was heroic. She was literally trying to save a family member from being killed and lost her life while doing so. It’s a tragedy.”
The couple’s four children—ages 9, 5, 4, and 3—were present during the shooting.
Mason added that Lewis’ motive was clearly conveyed in the text messages sent to his wife.
“These messages were essential evidence in this case, crucial for establishing motive,” Mason explained. “They illustrated why the defendant chose to confront his estranged wife and subsequently shot Vatrice Little when she intervened.”
Reflecting on the attack, McCain told KUSA that Little was braiding her hair when her estranged husband broke in and began shooting.
“He was targeting me. The first shot whizzed past my ear, and my cousin, who was right next to me, jumped in front of me to shield me,” McCain recalled. “He kept shooting.”
Lewis was arrested two days post-attack and was found guilty on February 13.
After sentencing, Mason stated that Little’s actions were “nothing short of heroic.” He praised her for stepping “in front of a murderer to protect her cousin.”
“That demonstrates remarkable courage, heroism, and sacrifice,” Mason concluded.
