Man Sent To Prison For Armed Robbery At Veteran's Alexandria Home

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A man involved in an armed burglary and robbery at a veteran's home in Alexandria has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Andy Alexis Melendez, 26, of Alexandria, had pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, one count of conspiracy to commit a felony and one count of burglary while armed with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to 58 years with all but 25 years suspended. Conditions include supervised probation for 10 years upon release, good behavior for 20 years, no contact with the victims and restitution payment.

Melendez and two other people broke into the home in the Arlandria neighborhood in the middle of the night on Jan. 8, 2018. The armed forces veteran, who is now serving in the National Guard, was at home with his wife and their three-year old daughter. One robber entered the home with a knife, and another with a gun before both threatened the family in order to open a safe. According to evidence presented at court, Melendez pointed a gun at the three-year-old child, threatened her parents, and struck one adult in the head.

Once the safe was open, the group stole personal documents and two guns, one of which was engraved to honor the veteran's military service in Afghanistan. The robber who removed the guns accidentally shot himself in the leg before the group escaped. Melendez had injured himself while striking the victim and left blood on the floor. That evidence led to Melendez being identified by police.

The stolen guns have not been recovered.

Melendez was held at the Alexandria jail pending transfer to prison.