Man Sentenced in Fatal Metro Station Shooting

WHEATON, MD — A young man who lost his temper and fatally shot a Silver Spring man at the Wheaton Metro station’s garage was ordered to spend two decades in prison.

Douglas Shannon Chase, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. He fired five shots at Eric Melgar, 20, of the 3000 block of Whispering Pines Drive in Silver Spring last summer.

A judge on Tuesday sentenced Chase to 20 years in prison, with five years supervised probation. She said she would recommend Chase serve his time in a program at Patuxent that helps prisoners with mental health issues.

In court, Chase’s attorney, John Sharifi, said Chase felt threatened and challenged by Melgar, which “led him to believe he was in danger.”

The gunman told the court he wanted to take responsibility for his actions.

“I’m sorry for the loss of the victim’s family. I’m sorry my actions, though not intentional, hurt them,” Chase said, reports WTOP. “I hope they’ll find it in their hearts to forgive me. They’re in my thoughts every day.”

Montgomery County Police responded to a report of shots fired in or near the Metro garage on July 14, 2015. The incident happened at the Redline station’s garage at 11171 Georgia Ave.

Investigators believe Melgar was involved in a confrontation with two suspects inside the garage. Chase had a handgun and began firing at the victim. The suspects then ran from the garage on foot.

When police officers caught up with Chase and Brent Deon Sanderson of Rockville, a firearm was found in their possession.

»Photo of suspect Douglas Shannon Chase of Washington, D.C., courtesy of Montgomery County Police