Jury finds Robron Lewis guilty of 2021 McDonald’s murder
Editor's Note: The original story said the shooting happened at a McDonald's located across the UTEP campus. It happened at a McDonald's near the intersection of N Mesa Street and the I-10. This story has been corrected with the actual location.
UPDATE (July 14, 2026): In addition to the verdict being delivered, Allen's family was allowed to give their victim impact statements to the courtroom as Allen's mother Kenisha Davis and sister Messiah Davis choosing to give their statement.
Kenisha described Allen as her 'anchor' giving birth to her first born as a teenager and told ABC-7 that he was her inspiration to get her Masters Degree and a double board certified mental health nurse to give him better opportunities in life.
Allen's siblings described him as a role model they looked up to, with his sister Messiah saying if her brother can't walk around Lewis shouldn't walk around either.
"I feel like if Jacal can't walk around and live his life, I don't think he should be able to," Messiah said. "Because I think you reap what you sow. You know, he took my brother, so I think he deserves to stay in prison for the rest of his life."
Kenisha echoed the sentiment, saying justice was served but also described how the aftermath of Allen's loss 'destroyed' her family.
She said Allen's fiancee was driven to suicide after his death and Allen's father was driven to alcoholism but said after five years the family can be at peace and added that she believes this verdict will be a benchmark for other cases like it.
She also extended a thank you to the judge and jury and said she's confident Tranquil Card's trial in September will have the same result.
"I think that this case definitely created the benchmark for any other case, so I'm extremely grateful that we are here now," Kenisha said. "It's been five years since he's been gone and we have not had the opportunity to be at peace; I definitely look forward to the next court hearing, because I do believe that justice will be served again."
UPDATE (July 14, 2026): Tuesday, the jury in Robron Lewis' capital murder case found him guilty. He was automatically sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Lewis took the stand Monday and claimed he was in the back seat of a car. He claimed there was a third person who was the shooter.
Lewis was charged in the shooting death of Jacal Jacob Allen over a drug dispute back in 2021.
Lewis and another man, Tranquil Card, set up a meeting with Allen to buy 10 pounds of marijuana. An argument ensued, and Allen was shot in front of his girlfriend.
Card's trial is set for September.
UPDATE (July 8, 2026): Wednesday, forensic experts took the stand and showed biological evidence linking Lewis to the crime.
DNA forensic scientist Kathy Cerrano confirmed that samples collected from the parking lot, getaway car and weapon tested positive for DNA evidence matching Lewis' clothing.
El Paso Police Department's supervisor of its fingerprints section found prints that matched Lewis' right middle finger.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Tuesday, the jury trial for a 2021 murder at a West El Paso McDonald's parking lot started. Robron Lewis is facing capital murder charges for the shooting, which police said started as a drug deal.
It happened Oct. 28, 2021, at a McDonald's on 7900 N Mesa St. near Interstate 10, according to police. An affidavit said 24-year-old Tranquil Card was also involved.
(Courtesy: EPPD)
Police said the men allegedly shot and killed 22-year-old Jacal Jacob Allen, stole 10 pounds of marijuana and left the area.
Lewis and Card reportedly agreed to purchase the marijuana from Allen, according to police.
An off-duty officer followed Lewis and Card and found them hiding in an auditorium at the University of Texas at El Paso, according to documents. At the time, the campus dorms went under a shelter-in-place as police searched and captured the pair.
Lewis was 22 years old at the time of the shooting, as ABC-7 previously reported.
A judge later denied bond for Card and ordered Lewis be held on a $2 million bond.
ABC-7 previously reported that UTEP President Heather Wilson acknowledged students' complaints about not knowing about police searching the campus for the suspects.
“There was a crime that happened off-campus last night that resulted in community police coming on-campus searching for the suspects. Our notification to the campus community to shelter-in-place was not fast enough. We are reviewing our response and lessons learned to fix problems,” she told ABC-7 in a statement.
