Homicide Co-Defendants Arraigned, Released from Home Confinement

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Two homicide co-defendants were arraigned on second-degree murder charges before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Oct. 4. After the arraignment, Judge Okun lifted the co-defendant’s home confinement orders and instated a curfew.

Ashton Inabinet, 17, and Na’eem Butler, 21, are charged with second degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Diamante Lewis on Oct. 21, 2023 on the 900 block of U Street, NW.

According to court documents, when officers responded to the scene they located Lewis suffering from six gunshot wounds to the chest, hip, thigh, and leg. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene by DC Fire and EMS personnel.

Inabinet is charged as an adult under Title 16 which allows the practice for certain serious crimes.

At the hearing, both defendants pleaded not guilty, and requested for their release conditions be modified. Prior to the hearing, both defendants had been on home confinement with GPS monitoring.

Kevann Gardner, Butler’s defense attorney, informed the court that Butler has been complying with all of his release conditions and received “excellent” reports from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), that oversees his release. He said Butler maintains a steady job and was nominated for employee of the month.

Gardner requested that Butler’s home confinement order be lifted and a curfew be instituted. Inabinet’s defense requested the same change for his client’s release conditions.

PSA and the prosecution deferred to the court to make the decision and Judge Okun granted the request. Butler and Inabinet must adhere to a curfew from 7 p. m.- to 7- a. m. and continue to be on GPS monitoring.

Stuart Sears, Inabinet’s defense attorney, informed the court that Inabinet would like to leave the jurisdiction and travel with his family to Tennessee for his grandparent’s 50th wedding anniversary that weekend. Pretrial confirmed that they would be able to monitor Inabinet while he was in Tennessee and Judge Okun approved the request.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Nov. 22.