Two Arrested, Firearms Recovered Following Foot Pursuit
On September 22, 2026, at approximately 9:37 p.m., Kinston Police Department C-Squad officers responded to a disturbance near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Fields Street.
When officers arrived, they attempted to make contact with a group of males believed to be involved in the disturbance. The group immediately fled on foot, and officers pursued them. During the foot pursuit, officers heard a single gunshot.
Officers apprehended two of the males, 23-year-old Dexter Washington and 23-year-old Amari Lewis, behind a residence on Harvey Street.
During the investigation, officers recovered a ski mask/balaclava that had been discarded in the immediate area. Officers also recovered a Glock 19 equipped with an auto sear, commonly referred to as a "switch," and loaded with an extended magazine. An empty shell casing was located with the firearm. Based on the investigation, it appears the firearm discharged after it was thrown to the ground during the pursuit.
Washington and Lewis were arrested and charged with:
• Possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction
• Possession of a Machine Gun
• Discharging a Firearm Within City Limits
• Resisting a Public Officer
Washington was additionally charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
Both Washington and Lewis remain in the custody of the Lenoir County Jail.
On the morning of September 23, K-9 Kilo conducted an article search of the area and located an additional firearm.
This investigation remains active, and additional updates will be provided as they become available.
Washington Lewis
###
