Defendant in Fatal Bar Shooting Receives 60-Year Prison Sentence

By Andrew Michaels - February 7, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A 44-year-old Baltimore man was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Feb. 7 for a fatal bar shooting the day after Christmas in 2019.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Philip S. Jackson presided over Monday’s sentencing hearing for Damon Miles who a jury found guilty of second-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person, and firearm possession with a felony conviction last December.

Miles was also charged with first-degree murder, which was not ruled on at trial.

In July 2021, the defendant rejected a plea of life without the possibility of parole.

Miles was previously convicted of second-degree murder for another man’s death in November 1995 and received mandatory release in April 2012.

On Monday, the prosecution and defense attorney Jane McGough informed Judge Jackson that the former will not move forward with the first-degree murder charge, which was then dismissed.

According to the prosecuting attorney, a jury found Miles guilty on Dec. 17, 2021, for his involvement in a bar shooting on Dec. 26, 2019. The entire case was captured on video surveillance, beginning with a brief interaction between the defendant and the victim, Michael Small, at Pratt Liquor and Bar.

Around 10 p.m., the attorney said, Small was socializing inside the bar on the 1800 block of W. Pratt Street, where Miles entered and got into a verbal altercation with the victim. Less than two minutes later, Miles left the bar and began walking down the street for about five seconds when he turned around.

“It is most likely [Miles] was returning to the bar not specifically to shoot Michael Small, but returning to shoot into that door,” the prosecutor said. “Mr. Small had the bad luck of walking out of that door the moment Miles walked in with a .9mm handgun,” put the gun to the victim’s temple, and pulled the trigger.

The prosector described the incident as “an egregious crime and a vicious act” with no provocation. He then recommended Judge Jackson sentence Miles to 40 years for second-degree murder—the maximum sentence under the sentencing guidelines—and consecutive 20 year and 15-year sentences for firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction, respectively.

“When Damon Miles took [Small’s] life, he took part of my life,” the victim’s mother said on Monday. “I’m very hurt and I’m very angry, but because of my faith, I have to find the strength to forgive you. I hope karma gives you everything you deserve and more.”

McGough highlighted the complexity of the case, specifically that she heard from several jurors after the trial that the jury heavily discussed the possibility that Miles suffered from psychological issues at the time of the incident. Miles was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, she said.

The defense attorney recommended the court send Miles to Patuxent Hospital for treatment and for Judge Jackson to consider a sentence of 40 years, suspending all but 25 years, for second-degree murder.

Following counsels’ statements, Judge Jackson sentenced Miles to 40 years for second-degree murder, a consecutive 20 years for firearm use in a felony violent crime, and a concurrent 15 years for having a handgun on his person and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

Judge Jackson also agreed to submit a recommendation for Patuxent Hospital.

Miles has 30 days to appeal his sentence, which McGough said she would complete on Feb. 8, as well as 90 days to ask for a sentence modification.