Lufkin murderer: 'I am sincerely sorry' - KTRE.com | Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas

While not saying it in court, a Lufkin man accused of murder said he was sorry for killing Billy Carter.

A jury has sentenced Warren Lewis, 39, to life in prison in connection the the shooting death at Lotus Lane Apartments in September.

Lewis pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Judge Bob Inselmann's court on Friday. Lewis opted to have a jury determine his punishment and claimed the murder was a crime of passion. Throughout the sentencing hearing, the prosecution argued that the crime was premeditated and was cold blooded.

Lewis shot Billy Carter on Sept. 4, 2016, saying he could not take any more of the way Carter was talking to him. After fleeing the apartments, Lewis turned himself in at the Angelina County Jail the same day.

"I know it don't mean much to B.C.'s family but I am sincerely sorry for what I did," Lewis said. "To Kianna and Alexis, I love them."

After the sentencing, Lewis starred forwards and would not look at Carter's sister, Sonya Marzette as she read different victim impact statements.

"The anger that I have and the pain that you have caused me, I hope you have it all," Marzette said. "I don't have a friend anymore. You took that from me. He was my best friend. A friend I can go fishing with. I don't have that no more and yet you have air to breathe. I want to go over there and do something, but I am a child of God."

After the court was dismissed and Lewis was taken to jail, a Lufkin medical unit was called to the court room to assist with two of his family members including his mother who had passed out. According to several courthouse security guards, the family members were never transported to a hospital.

Lewis is also required to pay a $10,000 fine.

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