A suspect in the killing of a D.C. Council intern was arrested at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier confirmed.
Omare Ismael Cotton, 28, was arrested in the same neighborhood where the murder occurred. The body of Alonte Sutton, 18, was found Sunday in a ravine near the 200 block of Newcomb Street SE.
Cotton has been charged with first-degree murder.
According to authorities, Cotton allegedly threatened Sutton with a knife and slashed his tires Friday after Sutton refused to give Cotton and his girlfriend a ride, News4's Pat Collins reported. Sutton flagged down a police officer, and Cotton immediately left the area. Sutton didn't file a report.
Then Saturday, as Sutton was replacing his tires, Cotton allegedly threatened to kill him, and shots were fired, according to authorities. Witnesses said they had seen Sutton being chased into a wooded area by a suspect who was shooting at him.
According to authorities, Cotton admitted to slashing Sutton's tires and a physical altercation with Sutton but denied shooting him, Collins reported.
Police responded to a report of shots fired in the area Saturday but didn't find Sutton's body until the responded to a missing person report Sunday.
Councilman Michael Brown (I-At Large) said Sutton was a favorite among the interns at the Wilson Building, where he participated in the 2009 Council Youth Internship Program with Brown's office. In the fall he was selected for another session and was assigned to the Office of Support Services.
Sutton had lived in the 800 block of 21st Street NE.
A candlelight prayer vigil will be held for him Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the 200 Block of Newcomb Street SE.
