Upper Marlboro, MD – What started out as a fistfight over an alleged door ding in a shopping center parking lot led to the death of one man and an 8-year prison sentence for another.
Thomas Hughes, 32, of Greenbelt, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with two years suspended for the death of Nicholas Keys, 21, of Bowie.
On June 4, 2018, Bowie police officers responded to a reported assault in a shopping center parking lot, where they found Keys, 21, of Bowie, lying on the ground. Keys was transported to a hospital and underwent emergency surgery for his injuries. He died of his injuries 4 days later, after being removed from life support.
Testimony at the trial revealed that Keys confronted Hughes’ girlfriend for hitting his car door with hers. After an argument ensued, Hughes hit Keys twice with his fist, knocking him to the ground. After a two-day trial, the jury returned the guilty verdict in five and a half hours.
“I am pleased that we are able to bring closure to this case for Mr. Nicholas Keys’ family. This was an unfortunate case in which a man lost his life at a very young age over a minor dispute,” said State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy. “There are so many other ways to resolve conflict and if an individual resorts to unnecessary violence, we will hold them accountable.”
