Judge Holds Penn State Student as Homicide Defendant

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On Feb. 7, DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond held a Penn State student who is suspected in a homicide. Na’eem Butler, 20, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Diamonte Lewis on Oct. 21, 2023, on the 900 block of U Street, NW.

According to court documents officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the sounds of gunfire at the location around 3:30 a.m. When they arrived they discovered Lewis mortally wounded from six gunshots.

The killing was the apparent result of a confrontation between two groups in DC’s busy U Street corridor. Lewis was reportedly going to Nellie’s nightclub when he got into a fight that he won, but was shot in retaliation.

According to prosecutors, there’s video that shows Butler, and two other suspects, in the moments leading up to and during the shooting. However, the defense argued for Butler’s release saying he had no criminal record, was student at Penn State University and many of his family members attended the proceeding in support.

Judge Raymond ruled that Butler was aware of actions and that there is enough evidence to provide probable cause. Butler’s next hearing set for Feb. 29 with DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

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