ROCKVILLE, Md. — What could have ended with a fistfight in a Metro garage has ended with a young man dead, and another sentenced to 20 years in prison.
D.C. resident Douglas Chase, 20, was sentenced in Montgomery County Circuit Court for the second-degree murder of Eric Melgar, who was killed July 14, 2015.
Chase had pleaded guilty in February of this year.
Prosecutor Shawn Andrews told judge Sharon Burrell that “fate, blind luck” put the two young men in the Wheaton Metro Station garage at the same time. Both were headed to the mall food court.
Words were exchanged, and tempers flared.
“These were young men, posturing with one another,” Andrews said. “Pride is very voluble at that age.”
Unfortunately, Andrews said, Chase had decided to bring a .380 caliber handgun to the mall.
“What could have been settled with a fistfight was settled with five gunshots,” Andrews said.
Chase’s attorney, John Sharifi, said his client felt threatened and challenged by Melgar and his friend, which “led him to believe he was in danger.”
“His mistake was being armed,” Sharifi said.
Before sentencing, two members of Chase’s family said he was a young man with potential who needed help.
Chase was the last person to speak before sentencing: “I’m sorry for the loss of the victim’s family. I’m sorry my actions, though not intentional, hurt them. I hope they’ll find it in their hearts to forgive me. They’re in my thoughts everyday.”
Chase’s attorney said his guilty plea showed he wanted “to own up to what he is accused of doing.”
Melgar’s family was not in court for Chase’s sentencing.
“At this point in their mourning, it does not involve the court system,” Andrews said.
While both sides agreed to 20 years in prison, prosecutors asked that Chase receive five years of supervised probation after he serves his sentence.
“The fact that no one else was injured is a miracle,” said Andrews, noting that Chase opened fire in an enclosed public space.
Judge Burrell agreed, imposing the 20 years in prison, with 5 years supervised probation. She said she would recommend Chase serve his time in a program at Patuxent that helps defendants with mental health issues.
After sentencing, Chase stood behind the defense table, and turned toward his family in the courtroom as sheriff’s deputies snapped shut his pair of handcuffs.
He smiled slightly, as family members said quietly, “we love you, Doug,” and “keep your head up.”
Chase turned, and was led away.
