Local News in Brief : Man Gets Prison Term in Slaying of Nephew

A 37-year-old Pacoima man was sentenced Tuesday to 27 years to life in prison in the shooting death of his nephew.

Ronald Owen Lewis pleaded guilty in January to murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He shot his nephew, Carl Steward, 27, outside their home in the 10900 block of Herrick Avenue on Oct. 13, and then tried to hit police with his car.

Witnesses said that Lewis had come out of the house yelling, said Marc Hentell, a deputy public defender. Steward approached, and Lewis shot him twice, the second time when Steward was on the ground. Authorities said they know of no motive for the slaying.

Lewis then jumped in his car and drove toward Los Angeles officers who had arrived to investigate the disturbance. An officer fired at Lewis and missed, but Lewis was captured after his car collided with another car, authorities said.

Lewis will not be eligible for parole until he has served 17 1/3 years, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Greller.