Teen faces 23 years in prison for killing gas-station clerk

Prosecutors will be seeking a 23-year sentence for the teenage boy who killed a Ballard gas-station clerk last summer.

Elijah Hall, 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in November to shooting Manish Melwani, 28, on July 26 at the Pit Stop Express and 76 gas station, at 15th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 58th Street.

Prosecutors will ask the judge to impose 23 years, a middle of the range sentence, when Hall is sentenced Friday in King County Superior Court.

Lori Hilliard, the teen's mother, said Hall, her youngest child, is sorry for what he did and did not premeditate the slaying.

"Elijah, along with all of us, are very, very remorseful about the event," Hilliard said. "It's a no-win situation."

Melwani was working in a backroom of the Pit Stop when Hall walked in and crouched behind the counter, charging papers said. When Hall pulled a gun on Melwani, the clerk tried to grab him, but he was shot twice, according to the charges.

Hall was linked to the crime through fingerprints.

When Hall was arrested, he was awaiting trial in King County Juvenile Court for robbery and assault, according to prosecutors.

Melwani's family has voiced outrage over the slaying during previous court hearings.

On July 28, Melwani's brother-in-law, Vinod Herkishnani, called Hall a "bastard," and said he should be hanged. Herkishnani was led away by courthouse security for the outburst.

Members of Melwani's family could not be reached to comment on the upcoming sentencing but are expected to speak at the hearing next Friday.

"He's 17 years old; he's a young man. He's a child still," Hilliard said of her son. "He's a very compassionate young man, with a heart and feelings. It's unfortunate he made a bad decision."

Hall, a former member of the Ingraham High School track and field team, had been arrested in 2008 after he and two other teens jumped a 14-year-old boy while they were attending summer classes at Ballard High School.

The three told the boy to empty his pockets and give them his cellphone before police came and the boy ran away, according to documents. The case is pending.

When he was arrested for Melwani's slaying, Hall was living with his mother.

Since the slaying, Hilliard has moved out of state.

"I lost all of my dreams, just as Mr. Melwani's mom did," Hilliard said. "I'm not going to see him walk across the stage and get that diploma."

Anthony Savage, the teen's lawyer, could not be reached to comment on the sentence he will be requesting.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com