The suspect accused of murdering an 89-year-old Warren woman when he was 17 years old accepted a plea deal Wednesday.

Nineteen-year-old Shamar Askew, who was scheduled to go on trial next week, was sentenced  to 15 years to life in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday afternoon in connection with the February 2021 shooting death of Ruth Lewis.

Askew also received a $20,000 fine, while the first two counts of murder were merged into one charge, and Askew received 8 years on the charge of improperly discharging a firearm and 36 months on the charge of tampering with evidence, which will be served concurrently.

Askew is charged with murder, improperly discharging a firearm, and tampering with evidence, in connection with the February 2021 shooting death of Ruth Lewis.

Lewis was shot while sitting in the living room of a home on Starlite Street NW where her family had gathered to plan the funeral of her son, who had recently died of a heart attack.

Police say they don't believe Lewis was the intended target of the gunfire.