Homicide Over Stolen Ounce Of Marijuana Gets Alexandria Man Sentence

ALEXANDRIA, VA — An Alexandria man received a prison sentence Wednesday in federal court related to a Fairfax County homicide over an ounce of marijuana.

In December 2021, a federal jury convicted Melvin Palma Flores, 20, of Alexandria, on charges of first-degree murder by firearm in relation to drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and witness tampering. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison this week.

An affidavit from a Fairfax County detective says the homicide happened on Oct. 26, 2019 at an apartment complex in an Alexandria address in Fairfax County. According to prosecutors, Melvin Palma Flores, 20, was a marijuana dealer who the victim attempted to rob. The victim reportedly arranged for two associates to purchase marijuana from Palma Flores but intended for the associates to steal the marijuana. At Palma Flores's house, one of the associates stole the marijuana on Oct. 25, 2019 while the victim waited in the car.

Palma Flores and two associates showed up to the victim's apartment complex, where the victim was outside on the staircase. Prosecutors say Palma Flores shot his gun, striking the victim in the right arm and top of his head.

Police had responded to the shooting in the early hours of Oct. 26, 2019 and found the victim with a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he died. An autopsy prompted the shooting to be classified as a homicide.

Palma Flores was arrested in February 2020. According to prosecutors, Palma Flores wrote to his girlfriend after his arrest, instructing her to lie about the events on the night of the homicide. He also told the girlfriend to influence others to lie and frame another person for the homicide, prosecutors say.