WASHINGTON – Ashton Inabinet, 16, of Alexandria, Virginia, was arrested yesterday on Second Degree Murder While Armed charges stemming from the homicide of 24-year-old Diamonte Lewis on October 21, 2023, in front of Nellies Bar at 9th and U Streets NW, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.
Inabinet, who was a student at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia, was arraigned on a charge of second degree murder while armed in D.C. Superior Court, Courtroom C-10, earlier today, where he entered a plea of not guilty. Judge Nolan found probable cause that the defendant committed the murder and held him without bond pending a preliminary hearing on December 13, 2023 before Judge Robert Okun.
An arrest on a complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
In announcing the arrest, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Assistant United States Attorney Erin DeRiso for her efforts in prosecuting this case.