Individual convicted for 23 years on homicide charge aboard King County Metro bus
In a striking turn of events, Miguel Dominguez, a 17-year-old from Burien, has been sentenced to 23 years and 4 months in prison for the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Marcel Wagner on a bus.
The incident occurred on a bus journey from Burien to White Center, as documented by onboard video footage. The footage shows Dominguez and Wagner sitting together for 12 minutes before the tragic event. As the bus came to a stop, Dominguez, without uttering a word, pulled the stop request cord and shot Wagner repeatedly in the head.
The shooting led to the immediate death of Wagner at the scene. Dominguez pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in July.
The case is an example of a juvenile being charged as an adult for a violent crime in Superior Court. Prosecutors argued that Dominguez's actions were not impulsive but premeditated and carefully planned. They also contended that he was aware of the wrongfulness and potential consequences of his actions, as evidenced by his attempts to hide his face and carry a change of clothing.
Contrarily, the defense did not argue that Dominguez's actions were a result of incomplete juvenile brain development. Instead, they asked for an "exceptional sentence" of 10 years, which is below the statewide sentencing range for murder.
The sentencing memo from prosecutors states that Dominguez's crime bears few hallmarks of a crime triggered by incomplete juvenile brain development. The sentencing, however, is still ongoing, with the final sentence not yet determined.
Interestingly, a similar case occurred in 2023, where 19-year-old Lauren Girgis was sentenced to 23 years and 4 months in prison for fatally shooting a man aboard a Metro bus.
The judges have unfettered discretion in sentencing juvenile defendants and are not required to follow standard sentencing guidelines in place for adults. This discretion allows for a case-by-case evaluation of the offender's actions and the circumstances surrounding the crime.
Despite the ongoing sentencing, the identity of the judge who handed down the sentence to Dominguez remains undisclosed. The sentencing of Dominguez serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent actions, regardless of age.
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