Crime
At the time of Monday’s shooting, Tyler Brown was on probation for firing several rounds at police officers in the South End in May 2020.
Officers are seen on Memorial Drive following a shooting in Cambridge, Massachusetts May 11, 2026. Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe Staff
May 12, 2026 | 12:34 PM
3 minutes to read
The suspected gunman who allegedly opened fire on Memorial Drive Monday had a laundry list of prior criminal charges and convictions to his name, prompting outcry from some who say his earlier sentences were far too lax.
Tyler Brown, 46, began “firing erratically” at vehicles on the busy Cambridge roadway around 1:30 p.m., seriously injuring two men in their respective cars, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
She said Brown ultimately fired more than 50 rounds with the “assault-style rifle” before he was confronted by a Massachusetts State Police trooper and an armed civilian, whom Ryan described as a Marine veteran with a license to carry.
-
‘What happened today cannot stand’: Memorial Drive shooter fired more than 50 rounds before trooper, civilian intervened, DA says
Brown was shot multiple times in the extremities and remains in police custody at a hospital in Boston, the DA’s office said. He is charged with two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of attempted assault and battery with a firearm, and a number of other weapon-related offenses, court records show.
Boston.com has contacted the Committee For Public Counsel for comment on his behalf.
It’s not Brown’s first brush with the law; court records reveal a string of prior assault, firearm, and drug charges spanning more than a decade, including a conviction in a 2014 knife attack.
At the time of Monday’s shooting, Brown was on probation for firing several rounds at police officers in the South End in May 2020. Suffolk County prosecutors assigned to that case asked for a state prison sentence of 10 to 12 years, but a judge instead sentenced Brown to five to six years in prison, with credit for time served.
“My office recommended a significant sentence for Mr. Brown given the nature of his offenses and the trauma and harm he inflicted,” then-District Attorney Rachael Rollins said at the time. “I am disappointed in the sentence that was imposed.”
In a Tuesday court filing, a Middlesex County prosecutor acknowledged Brown has “an extensive criminal history involving violent offenses.” Ryan previously said her office will touch more on Brown’s criminal history during his arraignment on the new charges.
But as further details about the suspected gunman’s past come to light, some politicians and public figures are questioning whether Brown’s previous sentences went far enough.
“As a former federal prosecutor, I can confidently state: We have a soft on crime problem in MA,” said U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton, a Republican seeking the seat currently held by incumbent Sen. Ed Markey. “Violent criminals should be treated like violent criminals. Period. … We have witnessed violent and dangerous criminals get light sentences like this guy. It must stop.”
Two Republicans running for governor, Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve, offered similar criticism in statements of their own.
“When our criminal justice system throws common sense out the window and allows dangerous, violent people to get out of prison quickly or early, it means innocent moms, dads, and kids may be killed,” Minogue said. “As Governor, I will keep communities safe by pushing to ensure that repeat offenders like Tyler Brown are not given lenient sentences or parole.”
Added Shortsleeve: “This disgusting act of violence falls on a justice system that sides with criminals over victims’ rights. When I’m governor, we’re firing everyone on the parole board. No more excuses for violent offenders.”
Others turned their attention to the judge who sentenced Brown in his 2020 shooting case.
“When dangerous offenders are back on the streets after only serving part of their sentence, it raises serious concerns about public safety, accountability, and the decisions being made by judges and the Parole Board,” said Chester Tam, a Republican running for state representative in Bristol County.
“If violent criminals released early go on to harm innocent people, the judges and parole boards responsible for those decisions should face real accountability too,” Tam continued.
The shooting also drew the attention of Barstool Sports founder and Massachusetts native Dave Portnoy, who wrote on social media, “Our justice system is broken when a guy like this maniac is freely on the streets.”
He added: “The judge who let this guy off easy should go to prison.”
Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
