A Savannah man has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole following his conviction in the 2025 shooting death of 41-year-old Benny Wright.
Superior Court Judge Christopher Middleton sentenced 22-year-old Nathaniel Leonard Lewis on Friday, August 28. Lewis also received an additional five-year sentence for possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
A Chatham County jury convicted Lewis on August 5 of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and the firearm offense.
The case began shortly after 4:30 a.m. March 8, 2025, when Savannah police responded to the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and West 35th Street.
Officers found Wright suffering from a gunshot wound outside a residence. He was transported to a hospital, where he died.
Investigators determined that Lewis and Wright encountered one another during the early-morning hours and walked together before an argument began.
Jurors reviewed surveillance footage, police body-camera recordings, a 911 call, firearms evidence, shell casings, medical evidence and other material gathered during the investigation.
Lewis testified during the trial and maintained that he acted in self-defense. The jury rejected that defense and convicted him on all four counts.
During Friday’s hearing, the court heard statements from Wright’s older brother and Lewis’ grandmother before imposing the sentence.
Lewis may seek parole after serving 35 years. His defense attorney said a request for a new trial will be filed.
Lewis will initially be transferred to a Georgia Department of Corrections classification facility, where officials will determine his permanent prison assignment.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
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