$50K Reward Issued in Peninsula Leader's Murder

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office announced Wednesday it will issue a $50,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of 54-year-old David Lewis, who was shot and killed at the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo on June 9.

Lewis was a community leader in East Palo Alto and co-founded a nonprofit called Free at Last, which provides substance abuse treatment and  transitional housing.

San Mateo police spokesman Lt. Mike Brunicardi said investigators are still working "tirelessly" on the case.

With the approval of David Lewis' family, San Mateo police chief  Susan Manheimer asked that a state reward be offered to encourage individuals  with information about the crime to contact law enforcement officers.

"We greatly appreciate the prompt actions of Gov. Schwarzenegger, who Wednesday issued a $50,000 reward upon our request," Manheimer said in a statement. "We believe that this reward will help generate critical leads."

Manheimer said she believes information from the community will help police solve the crime.

The governor's office has offered 265 rewards since the program  began in 1967, and 20 of those have been paid, Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Rachel Arrezola said.

To be eligible for such an award, a law enforcement chief must put in a written request and have approval from the victim's family. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the  San Mateo Police Department by calling the investigations team at 650-522-7650; calling dispatch at 650-522-7700; leaving an anonymous tip at 650-522-7676; texting an anonymous message to 650-262-3473; or emailing  an anonymous message to sanmateo@tipnow.org.