In 2017 I met James Edgar Lewis aka ‘Pops’ in Downtown Las Vegas. I’d been interviewing the homeless population since 2012.
He was eating fruit besides the road where he slept every night. We chatted about life on the streets and I asked if I could film him. He was hesitant and said maybe another time.
Our paths crossed a few months later and this time Pops had warmed to the idea. He was a quiet man who told me he kept himself to himself . He was from Texas and had spent much of his life in Denver. He’d served in the Airforce for a few years there. He claimed his family knew where he was.
He spent his days industriously collecting cans from the dumpster, working twelve hours a day. He used to be employed in a convenience store four years ago but lost his job and since found it impossible to find work at his age in the current climate. However he was optimistic as he was getting off the street in a month when he turned 65. He’d be getting enough from the government to get a modest place.
He spent his days industriously collecting cans from the dumpster, working twelve hours a day.
He was getting off the street in a month when he turned 65. He’d be getting enough from the government to get a modest place.
I filmed him a few times over a year and the last time I went to his corner he was out collecting cans. I left him some fruit under his blankets. It was 19th January 2018.
Back in the UK two weeks later I received a call from a friend in California. Someone was killing homeless people on the streets of Vegas, I should take a look, it was making national news.
Blurry CCTV on the news left me frozen with shock and in no doubt as to who was just murdered on this familiar street corner. James Edgar Lewis had been executed at point blank range a he slept at 4.17 am.
The news report featured his daughter, Oneida. His fingerprints had led the police to his family. They hadn’t heard from him for 18 years. Oneida actually lived in Vegas and despite running regular searches for her Dad had no idea he was so close. This tragedy had unfolded on her doorstep.
Oneida actually lived in Vegas.
This tragedy had unfolded on her doorstep.
I contacted Oneida immediately. At her request I shared some images of her father who’s face she hadn’t seen for so long. I headed straight to Vegas.
The police were now trying to find the killer. Th CCTV led them to know what kind of vehicle they were looking for. They were joining the dots of other events regarding homeless shootings. One man had been shot and killed two days earlier. Another homeless man had been shot in the face as he lay down but had miraculously survived .
Family came from Texas and Colorado to the funeral in Las Vegas. James’s younger brother was there. He ran the family farm in New Waverly, just north of Houston. They had a few hundred acres and were well respected in the community. James’s Dad and his wife were still alive, but too distressed to come. The news that James had been murdered was just too much. That fact that he was homeless also a blow.
Family came from Texas and Colorado to the funeral.
His ex-wife Casandra and her mother Oneida Snr were there too. Heartbroken and devastated by the news, Casandra, still clearly in love, had always held the hope that they would one day be reunited. They were mystified why he’d never asked for help.
A few locals attended also. It turned out Pops was a popular figure in the neighbourhood . People often gave him food and water.
The television news were all over the story. A seemingly sweet old man, murdered as he slept, captured the imagination. Some of my footage was made available to a news channel. The story made newspapers internationally.
Casandra, still clearly in love, had always held the hope that they would one day be reunited.
Police arrest twenty six year old Joshua Castellon also lived in Las Vegas. He was married with three children. His youngest child was only eleven days old on the day Pops was killed, he’d bought a gun the day his wife gave birth.
He was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two attempted murders. His trial is set for the end of 2019. He potentially faces the death penalty if convicted.