Victim Says She Was ‘Nothing, But a Mother’ to Defendant Convicted of Shooting into Her Front Door

By Ashleigh Joplin [former] - November 9, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A Baltimore man convicted of assault after shooting multiple rounds into his girlfriend’s family’s front door was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Nov. 8.

Defendant Dominick Scarboro appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Anthony F. Vittoria as prosecutors described his alleged “poor aim” as the reason behind the victims still being alive in this case.

According to charging documents, on Sept. 10, 2020, Scarboro was at his girlfriend’s mother’s home on the 6000 block of Chinquapin Parkway when he was asked to leave after she discovered he had a gun. He left the house but returned to retrieve some items which he said were in the house. Scarboro began to repeatedly bang on the door following ignored attempts to contact his girlfriend over the phone.

At some point, Scarboro and his girlfriend’s step-father began to fight at the door, at which point Scarboro allegedly took out a gun. The mother of the girlfriend was able to close the door before Scarboro allegedly began shooting into the front door. 

The parents of the defendant’s girlfriend all sustained multiple gunshot wounds as a result of the shooting. 

Scarboro was arrested and charged with three counts each of attempted first and second-degree murder, three counts each of first and second-degree assault, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, three counts of reckless endangerment, having a handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, the abusive use of a telephone to make repeated calls, the malicious destruction of property valued at more than $1000, the malicious destruction of property valued at less than $1000 and discharging firearms.

“I was nothing but a mother to you,” read the prosecutor from a statement written by one of the victims. She stated that she could no longer “play or care for my granddaughter because of nerve damage.”

Scarboro, who admitted to having a drinking problem during his statement to the court, apologized to the people who considered him at one point to be like family. 

“I did not mean for anyone to get hurt,” said the defendant, adding that he was “scared and acted stupid.” 

His mother testified during the hearing and assured the victims that his family would take a more active role in guiding him.

Defense Attorney Paul Polansky argued that it would be more of a strain on society to have Scarboro locked up. 

“What is a human life worth? What is his life worth?” said Polansky to the courtroom. “When does sentencing become counterproductive?”

Judge Vittoria said it did not seem like the defendant took full responsibility for the incident and instead saw himself as a “passive participant” in the altercation. He also questioned why the defendant had a gun, which could have prevented the shooting.

The defendant was sentenced by Judge Vittoria to two consecutive terms of nine years in prison, suspending all but five years with three years of supervised probation for first-degree assault, a consecutive sentence of two years, and suspending all but one for second-degree assault. 

In addition, he was given a concurrent sentence of ten years in prison, suspending all but five years, the first five years without the possibility of parole for the use of a firearm in a felony violent crime. This comes to a total of 20 years, suspending all but 11 years, the first five years without the possibility of parole, and three years of supervised probation. 

The defendant was also ordered to register as a gun offender and stay away from the victims. 

Judge Vittoria said while he did respect the jury’s decision not to charge the defendant with attempted murder, the first-degree assault charge did still carry a level of intent.
Read more on this case here.