Kentucky Activist Indicted After Attempting to Murder Mayoral Candidate

Quintez O. Brown has been charged with attempting to kill a Louisville mayoral candidate. Grayson County Detention Center

A Kentucky man, with ties to the Black Lives Matter movement, was indicted by a federal judge for allegedly shooting a mayoral candidate, and interfering with his campaign, according to the Department of Justice.

Quintez O. Brown, 21, was charged with attempting to kill Louisville candidate Craig Greenberg at his office, said a DOJ press release on Thursday.

Brown has also been charged with intimidation and interference with a citizen’s federally protected right to run for elective office.

Greenberg, a Democrat, is campaigning for mayor in the Louisville primary election.

On Wednesday he posted a video about the shooting and his campaign on his Twitter account.

“This story is not one that our campaign ever wanted to tell. However, my wife Rachel and I thought it was important to share our experience with our community,” Greenberg said in his tweet.

Minimum of 10 Years

Brown made an initial court appearance on Thursday and as of publishing time is understood to be held at the Grayson County Detention Center. He will again appear in court on Friday.

He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of a life sentence if convicted.

On Feb. 14, Brown entered Greenberg’s office premises and started shooting at the candidate, according to the police, reported Courier Journal.

Greenburg, who was with his four staffers, escaped unharmed but a bullet grazed his clothing.

Brown—a former Courier Journal intern and University of Louisville student—pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was also an independent Metro Council candidate.

His attorney, Rob Eggert, requested the court to understand his client’s mental state and for decreasing the bond amount.

“This is not a hate crime—it is a mental health case,” Eggert said in an interview after the arraignment, according to the Courier Journal.

Black Lives Matter Activist

Brown had been released from prison on Feb. 16, after a local group, Louisville Community Bail Fund, posted a $100,000 bond.

The Louisville Community Bail Fund works toward assisting those unable to afford bail. The group has helped protesters involved in the Black Lives Matter organization’s marches following the death of Breonna Taylor.

“We have enough in to take care of him,” Chanelle Helm, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Louisville, told Courier Journal on Feb. 16. “We got a lot of money in 2020. We’re doing exactly what we would do for anyone else in this situation.”

Brown is a part of the Black Lives Matter Louisville community, according to Helm.

Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini, a Republican, was critical of Brown’s then release.

“Attempted murder on Monday, go home on Wednesday. This case is highlighting everything wrong with our criminal Justice system in Louisville,” Piagentini said on Twitter.

Regarding the case, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the senate floor: “Less than 48 hours after this activist tried to literally murder a politician, the radical left bailed their comrade out of jail.”