Suspect In Pottstown Stabbing Death Arrested: DA

POTTSTOWN, PA — Steven Holmes, the man wanted for a stabbing killing in Pottstown, has been arrested, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced late Wednesday morning.

Holmes was arrested on Tuesday night on Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia, authorities said. He has been charged with first and third degree murder and possessing instruments of crime, according to the DA.

Holmes, 54, a homeless man, had a warrant issued for his arrest for the stabbing death of Diamonde Stone, also known as "Clutch," in Pottstown in July.

The incident occurred on Sunday, July 30 at around 10:32 p.m. on the 300 block of High Street in the borough.

Stone had been playing guitar when he got into an argument with Holmes. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Holmes later told others that the argument was over $20.

Witnesses told detectives that they heard screaming coming from the street on the 300 block, and when they looked out, they saw four people: Stone, who was kneeling on top of Holmes, beating him, and two others who were trying to break up the fight. The affidavit of probable cause states that the man being beaten "made a movement with his hand straight up," and after that Stone staggered away and collapsed against a wall, suffering from a stab wound that injured his heart.

Stone was taken to Pottstown Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy on Monday confirmed the manner of death as homicide.

Assistant DA's Christopher Daniels and Matthew Brittenberg will prosecute the case.

A preliminary hearing for Holmes is set for Sept. 5 before Judge Kropp.

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office