Jury sentences confessed cop killer to death in slaying during 2007 robbery in Philadelphia

Jury issues death sentence in Pa. officer slaying

PHILADELPHIA — A baby-faced cop killer accepted a Philadelphia jury’s death sentence Tuesday, vowing to take responsibility for shooting the veteran officer during a doughnut-store robbery.

John Lewis, 23, of Philadelphia, apologized to the family of slain officer Chuck Cassidy as uniformed officers who packed the courtroom looked on.

“I take this sentence with honor for Chuck and my family,” Lewis said. “I am going to stand up like a man and take responsibility for the action that I have done.”

A jury needed only a few hours to decide the death penalty was justified for Cassidy’s murder on the morning of Oct. 31, 2007.

The 25-year police veteran was shot in the head as he walked in on the robbery in the city’s West Oak Lane section. He died the next day.

Authorities tracked Lewis down at a Miami homeless shelter a few days later.

Cassidy’s widow, Judy, said the sentence offers no solace to her or her family.

“There are no winners today,” she said afterward. “This doesn’t make us feel any better. We’re glad this is over.”

Lewis pleaded guilty to a general murder charge earlier this month but left it for the jury to decide his degree of guilt. The jury convicted him of first-degree murder last week.

Tuesday’s hearing capped a two-week trial full of unexpected twists, including Lewis’ decision after four days of jury selection to plead guilty to murder, robbery and other charges.

Perhaps the most stunning moment came as Judy Cassidy testified, describing the life she had enjoyed with her husband and their three children.

Lewis, crying at the defense table, shouted out: “I apologize, Mrs. Cassidy.”