Police arrest DC man in death of Hyattsville woman found shot in burning car

WASHINGTON - D.C. Police have made an arrest in the vicious murder of a young woman who was found shot in the trunk of a burning car in Southeast Washington, a few days after Christmas.

Indications are that Kerrice Lewis, 23, was still alive as the car burned and was fighting to get out.

On Sunday, police announced they arrested Ashton Briscoe, also 23, of Northeast and charged him with first-degree murder while armed.

Police did not reveal the motive for the murder or the relationship between the suspect and victim.

Lewis was one of three young people murdered on the same day, Dec. 28, in the D.C. region.

Investigators have said they believe the victims knew each other and that they're still investigating whether there's a connection between the crimes.

Lewis' girlfriend told FOX 5 that she doesn't know Briscoe and will never understand how someone could take a life so brutally.

"She didn't deserve to be killed the way she did," said Lacey, who chose not to give her last name. "She's a 130-pound female."

Lewis' grandfather says he and his wife raised her after her dad was murdered and her mom died of a brain aneurism. Lewis served time behind bars, but family and friends say she was working to get back on track before she died.

"She really wanted to see her mom, so I know she's up there, you know, with her mom, taking care of her mom," Lacey said. "But she didn't need to go this early. She had a lot of life ahead of her."

About an hour before Lewis was found dead on Adrian Place Southeast, 27-year-old Armani 'Nico' Coles was discovered shot along Interstate 295, by the D.C. and Prince George's County line.

Last month, 20-year-old Malique Nathan Lewis of Southeast was arrested on charges including first-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and theft.

In the morning of Dec. 28, 23-year-old Ronzay Green was shot and killed in Northeast. Authorities later arrested 23-year-old Dennis Whitacker of Northeast.

Lewis appears to have known both men.

While police have arrested three separate suspects, they say the investigation continues.