Indiana Man Sentenced to 240 Years for Fatally Shooting Wife and Bystander at Gas Station

Cherok Ameer Douglass received the maximum possible sentence for a crime described by the judge as “the worst of the worst,” according to reports

An Indiana man was handed the maximum sentence of 240 years behind bars on Wednesday for fatally shooting his wife and a bystander — and injuring a third person — at a gas station last year, according to ABC News, The Washington Post, WHAS11 News and Fox News.

Cherok Ameer Douglass was convicted of two murder charges in August, with one count each of attempted murder and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, according to ABC News.

The Washington Post reported that defense attorneys asked for Douglas to receive the minimum sentence of 131 years in prison.

Douglass shot his wife, Brandee Kay Douglass, 38, and a bystander, Lorin M. Yelle, 43, in April 2022, according to prosecutors, per ABC News. He then held the owner of a nearby restaurant hostage — who was injured falling from his vehicle — during a police pursuit, per the outlet.

He was shot by police and arrested, WHAS11 News reported.

Floyd Superior Court Judge Carrie Stiller called Douglass' crime "the worst of the worst,” according to Fox News.

He expressed his regret to the relatives of those he killed but said he would challenge the jury’s decision and appeal, per the outlet.

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"I still don’t remember what happened that night," Douglass said upon sentencing, per Fox News.

Court documents revealed Douglass was under the influence of methamphetamine and heroin when he was arrested, per the outlet.

Douglass will face another trial for a battery charge involving an alleged attack that occurred while he was in jail awaiting this trial, WHAS11 News reported. Court records showed he assaulted a man in the shower using a sock filled with soap bars and a razor blade, per the outlet.

Defense attorneys said that Douglass was not in his right mind when he shot his wife and the other victims, as reported by WHAS11 News in another article. They claimed he “snapped” out of fear that Brandee was cheating on him. Arguing the crime wasn’t premeditated, Douglass’ attorneys said he regretted his actions, stating, “I’ve just killed the woman I love,” per the outlet.

Brittany Linne, one of Brandee's many friends to attend Douglass’ trial, told WHAS11 News in July "It makes me sick to my stomach to know what he did.”

“He didn't have to go to that extreme,” she added. “They could have just left, walked away. I'm here for her. I want the maximum justice served."

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