In a significant legal development in Virginia, a man has been sentenced to several decades in prison following a fatal shooting at a restaurant. Earlier this week, a judge delivered the verdict that will see the convicted individual serve a lengthy sentence.

Back in February 2025, Derek Lewis, aged 31, was convicted by a jury on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, shooting in the commission of a felony, and maliciously discharging a firearm within an occupied structure.

The sentencing took place on Wednesday, where Circuit Court Judge F. Patrick Yeatts handed down a 63-year prison term to Lewis. However, eight years of this sentence were suspended, meaning Lewis is expected to serve 55 years for the tragic shooting of 28-year-old Tyler Johnson in November 2022.

The incident unfolded at the Iron & Ale restaurant located on Cornerstone Street in Lynchburg. On that fateful night, Lewis shot Johnson, reportedly under the impression that Johnson and his mother were mocking him, as reported by The News & Advance.

During the trial, Lynchburg Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Dianna Baker emphasized the senselessness of the act, telling jurors, “The bottom line here is Tyler Johnson is dead, and he absolutely should not be. He knew exactly what he was doing.”

The defense, for their part, argued there was no malice behind the shooting because Johnson was aggressive and “coming in hot” toward Lewis, who was backing up at the time the gun was fired.

The confrontation between the two men began after Lewis erased part of a specials chalkboard, Lewis himself testified, according to a courtroom report by Lynchburg-based ABC affiliate WSET.

Describing the incident as self-defense, the since-condemned man said Johnson angrily approached him and told him not to touch things that were not his – and then followed him into the bathroom to lodge a threat. After that, the defendant testified, he walked over to Johnson and his mother to apologize before the woman said to let it go. As Lewis walked away, however, he said he heard laughter and mocking, so he offered a middle finger response. Then, things escalated, Lewis said.

“Oh, hell no,” Johnson allegedly said. “Do you have a problem?”

Lewis said he answered in the negative but the victim, apparently adamant on a contretemps, replied: “Well, you do now.”

The killer said the victim began “closing in” and threatened: “Let’s take this outside. I’ll stab your b– a–.” Then, Lewis said, Johnson shoved him into a wall, held him “in his grip” and left a bruise on his arm. After that, the bullet came – traveling through Johnson’s heart and ending in his spine.

As it turned out, Johnson was the restaurant owner’s son. Lewis said he did not know that at the time of the incident.

In the end, the jury agreed with the state.

After the shooting, Lewis left the restaurant and ran to his mother’s house some two miles away. Then, he drove to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland and bought a plane ticket bound for Cancun, Mexico. He boarded his flight and was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida, during a layover.

“This was so avoidable,” Yeatts said during the sentencing hearing, according to a courtroom report by The News & Advance. “I wish Mr. Johnson had never approached you.”