Authorities had previously cautioned that Tyler Brown, accused of a recent shooting in Cambridge, Massachusetts, posed a significant threat, predicting he could “hurt or kill someone” after receiving a lenient sentence for a 2020 incident involving gunfire at police officers.
Six years on, this warning became a grim reality when Brown allegedly discharged an assault rifle indiscriminately along a bustling Cambridge street in broad daylight on Monday.
“I firmly believe that once Mr. Tyler Brown is released, he will harm or, even worse, kill someone,” stated a Boston police officer. This officer was the target of Brown’s attempt to kill during a 2020 confrontation, where Brown reportedly fired 13 shots from a Glock at close range.
Despite the officer’s victim impact statement in 2021, the judge disregarded the recommended 13-year sentence. Instead, Brown received a significantly reduced prison term of five to six years, as reported by NBC 10.
Brown was released in January, and within four months, the fears of his past victim seemed to manifest. Brown was allegedly captured on video walking along Cambridge’s Memorial Avenue, firing approximately 60 rounds across the busy street in broad daylight.
The frightening incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. near the Cambridge Street Bridge, close to Harvard and MIT. Brown allegedly appeared with an assault rifle and opened fire, hitting vehicles and pedestrians, and leaving two individuals critically injured.
People were sent diving for cover and cars went screeching to a halt on busy street, before a brave Marine veteran with a gun and a Massachusetts State Trooper charged into the fray and returned fire.
Brown was blown off his feet with several wounds, and was apprehended by a swarm of police who whisked him away to a hospital for treatment.
It remains unclear what prompted the alleged rampage, but he was on parole for his 2020 attack on cops.
And that was just his latest conviction — in 2014 he was convicted of assaulting a victim with a knife, which apparently had little sway in a judge’s decision not to send him away for longer in 2020.
Near-victims of his latest alleged attack were just thankful there were courageous heroes on hand to thwart him Monday.
“A man came, went around his car and pulled open my car door and made like a barricade,” survivor Rachel Saveriano told NBC 10, explaining she was in her car near the shooting and froze in terror.
“He had a gun and he told me to run, and I ran and then I just ran as fast as I could,” Saveriano said of the brave ex-Marine, who she called a “hero.”
Gov. Maura Healey even thanked the Marine for “demonstrating extraordinary bravery in a moment of crisis.”
Brown will face charges of assault with intent to murder, firearms charges and “a variety of other charges,” according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan.
