The man suspected of a shooting spree spanning from New York to Washington, D.C., was meant to be in prison at the time of the shootings but was released early due to a Virginia prosecutor’s push for reduced charges.
Gerald Brevard III, who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly killing two homeless men and injuring three others, was arrested in connection to other felonies in December 2020. Prosecutor Steve Descano charged him with abduction with attempt to defile, burglary, and possession of burglarious tools after Brevard tried to kidnap a housekeeper and break into a nearby apartment, according to the case report.
Under Virginia law, the charges would have amounted to at least 26 years in prison. However, Descano settled on more lenient charges, reducing the first two felonies to misdemeanors and dropping the third altogether, allowing Brevard to be released from prison just months later in June 2021.
SUSPECT CONNECTED TO NYC AND DC HOMELESS SHOOTINGS ARRESTED
Less than a year after that, Brevard opened fire on at least five homeless people, officials alleged. Following a joint investigation between New York and Washington, he was arrested on March 15 of this year.
Descano has since faced criticism from state prosecutors, such as state Attorney General Jason Miyares, who have accused the attorney of exemplifying a “light on crime” attitude.
“Criminal justice reform does not mean eliminating criminal justice,” Miyares told the Washington Examiner. “When violent criminals are repeatedly given light sentences and are quickly put back on our streets, violent crime is going to increase, and this often hurts vulnerable communities the most … The criminal-first, victim-last mindset behind this approach of prosecution is a danger to the public.”
Police charged Brevard with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection to the most recent attacks.
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Crime has been on the rise nationwide over the last year, particularly in Democratic-controlled cities that have faced calls from voters to “defund the police” in the wake of social justice protests in 2020. Republicans have pointed to changes in New York City, which reallocated funds in 2020 from its police budget to go toward other social programs, and elsewhere as motivating rising crime rates.
While Virginia reported a decrease in overall violent crime in 2020, the most recent year data was available, critics note the number of reported homicides increased by about 23%, as well as car thefts (6%) and hate crime offenses (2.7%).
The Washington Examiner reached out to Descano’s office for comment but did not receive a response.
