59 Hoover Criminal Gang​ Leader Convicted In Columbia Man's Shooting Death

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A Howard County jury has returned a conviction for the 59 Hoover Criminal Gang's local leader, 36-year-old Jeremi Quentin Lewis. He's the last gang member of eight defendants to be convicted in a Howard County investigation.

On the evening of May 30, 2021, Howard County police were called to the 6000 block of Foreland Garth for a report of shots fired. Officers found 21-year-old Jaden Ealey of Columbia behind the Exxon gas station with gunshot wounds. He was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in critical condition and later died on June 11, 2021.

"Thanks to the tremendous work of our law enforcement officers and our judicial system, our community is a little safer today. We will not tolerate violent crimes that terrorize our neighbors. Thank you to our Howard County Police Department, Howard County Sheriff’s Office and Howard County State’s Attorney’s office for their combined efforts to hold the responsible parties accountable," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said during a news conference.

Lewis has been convicted of first-degree murder in Ealey's shooting death, as well as gang involvement and gang leadership, among other offenses, for which he faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus 100 years, the Howard County state’s attorney said. The other seven defendants pleaded guilty to crimes including robbery, assault and gang involvement, with sentences ranging from four to 18 years’ incarceration.

Some of the criminal acts committed by members of the “59 Hoover Criminal Gang” were designed to establish dominance and take control over territories in Columbia. The members also sold illegally controlled substances and kept firearms in their possession to use in violent crimes, according to the Howard County Police Department.

"Our office is grateful to all our partners who helped make this result possible and to the jury who carefully weighed all the evidence in this case after a three-week trial. We also want to thank the community for helping us identify these types of crimes by reporting suspicious behavior to police. And finally, our heart goes out to everyone who was harmed by the defendants of this criminal gang organization and in particular, Mr. Ealey’s family who have had to deal with the unbearable loss of their beloved family member at the tender age of 21 years old," Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson said.

Lewis' sentencing date has been scheduled for May 1 at which time he faces a potential maximum sentence of life without parole plus 100 years. The seven other gang members already have been convicted for various crimes after their pleas of guilty. Their sentences range from 4 to 18 years. Only one other defendant is awaiting sentencing.

The other seven convicted members include:

• Terrence N. Hux
• Daquan A. Woodson
• Antonio M. Haywood
• Justin D. Harper
• Tavon Hawkins
• David A. Wainwright, Jr.
• Anthony S. Jenkins