A man who attempted to murder a Boston police officer in 2020 opened fire on Memorial Drive in Cambridge on Monday, striking two innocent drivers after a judge released him years ahead of schedule. Tyler Brown, 28, fired up to 60 rounds at passing vehicles before a state trooper shot him, ending the rampage that left victims fighting for their lives.
Judge Ignored Prosecutor’s Recommendation
Brown pleaded guilty in 2021 to eight felonies, including armed assault with intent to murder a police officer. Prosecutors requested 10 to 12 years in state prison. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders sentenced him to just five to six years instead, with credit for time served. Brown walked free on parole after approximately three years, still wearing a GPS monitor when he launched Monday’s attack.
Warning Signs Ignored Minutes Before Attack
Boston police had issued an alert to Cambridge authorities just minutes before the shooting began. Brown’s parole officer contacted police after witnessing him brandish a rifle during a video call while making suicidal statements. Officers arrived at his Dorchester home for a wellness check, but Brown fled across the river and began firing at random vehicles along Memorial Drive around 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Victims in Critical Condition
Two drivers sustained gunshot wounds during the assault. An MBTA bus driver was shot in the head, according to family members who spoke with Boston25. Another motorist also suffered critical injuries. A postal service truck was hit by gunfire, though the driver escaped unharmed. Witnesses abandoned their vehicles and took cover underneath them as bullets flew. A state police cruiser responding to the scene was struck by gunfire.
Officer’s Prediction Came True
A Boston police officer who Brown tried to kill in 2020 submitted a victim impact statement warning that Brown would hurt or kill someone upon release. That 2020 incident involved Brown firing 13 rounds at close range at officers responding to a report of a man with a gun. No officers were hit, but Brown was arrested after a violent struggle. A former Marine with a concealed carry permit assisted the state trooper in stopping Brown on Monday. Brown remains hospitalized after being shot multiple times in the lower extremities. He faces two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, weapons offenses, and additional felonies.
