‘Porch sleeping’ habit may have exposed Hopewell man to attacker

Although some residents of Hopewell believe that the country’s first suspected homicide for 2025 may have been a targeted attack, they remain on high alert and say they will be taking additional security measures going forward.

Hopewell farmer and welder, Albert Lorenzo Lewis, was discovered on his front porch by a neighbour on the morning of January 2, 2025 with a wound to the right side of his head and several scrapes about his body.

When he was initially found, residents said they believed that he had been chopped to death. However after police responded and processed the scene, several exhibits, including a spent shell were found leading to the belief that it may have been a firearm killing.

When SEARCHLIGHT visited the Lewis residence it was deserted and a dog stood guard on the perimeter of the property.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that the deceased resided alone and had developed a habit of sleeping outside of the house on the porch, and residents speculate that this may have led to him being exposed to the killer.

The porch sleeping habit reportedly started after the death of Lewis’ brother and nephew in 2024, both of whom had been ill. The two relatives said to have died on the heels of each other, and following their deaths Lewis declared that he was no longer sleeping inside the house.

He apparently placed a piece of cloth in the porch which functioned as a curtain for the occasions that he slept outside.

Lewis’ house is located on the main bypass road to Greiggs and is surrounded on the northern and eastern sides by an abundance of bush and it is believed that this location allowed the attacker to enter the property without raising an alarm.

A male resident from the community told SEARCHLIGHT that although the area has had its share of violent altercations in the past, this one is disturbing.

“Things like these don’t too much happen up here, and nobody know really what cause it. And also ‘cause he was alone in the house since the brother died,” the resident noted.

Residents told SEARCHLIGHT that since the incident they make sure to secure their properties at night.

In 2011, Lewis landed himself in judicial hot water after he was arrested and charged with entering the dwelling house of a fellow resident. He was convicted of burglary the following year and sentenced to seven years in prison.