Woman charged in 2021 shooting outside Miami Hooters defends actions; Lawyer says man who shot man used N-word

MIAMI (WSVN) — A Florida woman accused of shooting a man outside a Hooters restaurant in Miami nearly two years ago defended her decision to open fire, saying she was protecting her family when they were threatened, and her lawyer said she was involved in this man used a racial slur.

Kuanesha Lewis is awaiting trial on charges of attempted murder, child abuse and misuse of a firearm for shooting Darren Campbell on February 27, 2021.

Speaking to 7News on Wednesday, Lewis said she received death threats.

“I was told that I should be dead, that people would come and kill my children,” she said.

Campbell was with his 8-year-old daughter Jade at the time of the shooting. The recording of the 911 call shows a child pleading for help.

What is your address and what is the emergency? the dispatcher asked.

“Someone help my dad!” She said.

“I’m hurt, I’m hurt,” Campbell told the dispatcher.

Police said Lewis shot Campbell after a meeting at a restaurant, which was caught on security video.

Lewis said she was protecting herself and her young nieces and nephews that night, she claims Campbell threatened to cut her tires and then threatened her life.

“I wanted to find a way to protect my family,” she said.

Last week, 7News spoke with Campbell about the health issues he has faced since the shooting.

“I was hit in the stomach and in the chest,” he said.

Physical therapy video footage showed Campbell learning to walk again.

“He’s coming,” Jade said in the video.

Lewis, who lives in Tampa, said she was in Miami at the time of the incident to attend a family member’s funeral.

According to her, after her arrest, she was fired from her job in the healthcare sector.

“The last two years have been very difficult for me,” she said. “It had a huge impact on my life and the life of my family.”

Moreover, according to Lewis, she was bombarded with threats of violence and hatred online.

“Many of them are racist,” she said.

Wednesday’s often emotional interview with 7News marks Lewis’ first public appearance since her arrest.

She declined to discuss the details of the case on the advice of her lawyer, except to say why she was seen walking behind Campbell shortly before she shot him twice.

“I went to drive my car,” she said.

This is because, according to her, Campbell told her that he was going to slit her tires.

Public defender Alexander Shire said that Campbell used racial slurs.

“[He told her], “I’ll kill you, N-word. Go back to the restaurant, N-word. Again and again he threatened Ms. Lewis’s life – Shire.

Shire did not elaborate on who said Campbell used the N-word, but he did say there were witnesses who heard threats and the N-word shouted just before the shooting.

This is what Shire claims Campbell was seen reaching into his pocket before Lewis shot him.

“The only thing that can reasonably be concluded is that this is a firearm, and if I don’t answer, I will die,” he said.

Campbell was unarmed.

“Of course, but if someone walks around saying the N-word and I’m going to kill you and then reaches, if you don’t have x-ray vision, there is no way to know it’s not,” Shire said. .

Listening to “stand your ground” will determine how and if the case will move forward. The hearing date will be announced later this month.

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