MELBOURNE, Fla. — August 6, 2025 Nearly two months after prosecutors upgraded charges against 24-year-old Stephan Diejuste from manslaughter to second-degree murder, the question on many minds has been: why is he still free on bond?
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That question will begin to be addressed at a critical hearing scheduled for Thursday, August 7, when the State Attorney’s Office for the 18th Judicial Circuit argues to have Diejuste’s bond revoked or significantly increased.
Diejuste was initially arrested by Melbourne Police on May 11 for the shooting death of 19-year-old Nathanial Jennings near Vernon Place in Downtown Melbourne. He was charged with manslaughter and released four days later after posting a $100,000 bond.
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But on June 3, prosecutors filed formal charges of second-degree murder with a firearm—a charge that carries a potential life sentence. The next day, on June 4, the State filed a motion to either revoke Diejuste’s bond or raise it substantially in light of the upgraded charge.
Despite that motion, Diejuste has remained out of jail, prompting confusion and concern from the victim’s family and members of the public.
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According to State Attorney’s Office Communications Director Matt Reed, the delay is due to court scheduling procedures. “The earliest date we could get a hearing to argue the motion is August 7,” Reed explained in an email. “In this circuit, defendants who have already posted bond are not re-arrested and jailed for the same incident just because the charges are enhanced.”
Reed confirmed that prosecutors plan to seek pretrial detention, meaning they will argue that Diejuste should remain incarcerated without bond. To do so, they will need to present evidence of an overwhelming likelihood of conviction in a three-hour mini-trial before the judge.
Security footage from the shooting shows Jennings was unarmed and fleeing down the sidewalk when Diejuste fired eight times. Jennings later died at Holmes Regional Medical Center.
“The video shows Diejuste pulling his weapon, stepping back, and firing as Jennings attempted to get away,” prosecutors previously said in a press release.
In a statement provided to Fox 35’s Esther Bower, Diejuste’s attorney strongly contests the upgraded charges. “We strongly disagree with the increased charges and believe raising his bond is unjustified. Mr. Dieujuste has no criminal history and poses no danger to the community. Melbourne has extensive surveillance cameras, and we have requested that all video footage be preserved. We expect this footage to show that Mr. Dieujuste acted only in self-defense,” said attorney Scott Robinson who’s representing the shooting suspect.
The victim’s mother has expressed frustration with the slow pace of the bond proceedings, but the State Attorney’s Office says they have kept her informed at every step and have also coordinated with the Melbourne Police Department.
Wednesday’s hearing is expected to be pivotal, not just in determining Diejuste’s bond status, but in previewing key evidence for the upcoming trial.
