In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 21, 2023, violence shattered the night on a popular Washington, D.C. street. At approximately 3:38 a.m. in the 900 block of U Street, Northwest, gunshots rang out, leaving a young man fatally wounded. When officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the scene, they discovered 24-year-old Diamonte Tyziah Lewis suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite any efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the location.
Diamonte, born on October 10, 1999, in Washington, D.C., was a beloved son, brother, and friend. Known for his infectious energy and outgoing personality, he had a passion for rapping, music, and dancing. He also enjoyed playing basketball and football. His sudden and violent death left his family and community mourning the loss of a talented and vibrant individual.
In the days following the shooting, the Metropolitan Police Department released video footage of the suspected gunman, asking the public for assistance in identifying the individual responsible for Lewis's death. The investigation led to an arrest in December 2023, when authorities charged 16-year-old Ashton Inabinet of Alexandria, Virginia, with second-degree murder while armed. Court documents indicated that a witness claimed a fight had occurred just before the fatal shots were fired.
The investigation continued, and in February 2024, a second suspect was apprehended. Twenty-year-old Na'eem Butler of Herndon, Virginia, was arrested by the MPD Fugitive Unit with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service after being extradited from State College, Pennsylvania. Butler also faces a charge of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Diamonte Lewis's death. While police have not officially released a motive for the shooting, the arrests brought a measure of progress in the ongoing quest for justice for Diamonte and his loved ones.
