LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A man from Kentucky was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for shooting at Craig Greenberg, who was a candidate for mayor of Louisville in 2022. The sentencing hearing was a charged event where Greenberg described the psychological impact of the attack on him.
Quintez Brown was apprehended shortly after leaving Greenberg’s campaign office, where one of the multiple shots he fired barely missed Greenberg, instead grazing his sweater. During the incident, four staff members were present, and one swiftly attempted to secure the door against Brown following the gunfire.
During the court proceedings, Greenberg recounted how an unfamiliar individual approached his campaign headquarters, and as staff attempted to communicate with this person, he suddenly saw a gun aimed at him. “The sound of those gunshots is something I’ll never forget,” Greenberg shared. In the days following the incident, he experienced overwhelming fear and confusion that left him emotionally numb.
At the age of 24, Brown had pleaded guilty in July to federal charges related to interfering with a protected activity and firing a weapon during a violent crime. The plea deal had outlined a potential sentence in the range of 15 to nearly 18 years.
U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton characterized Brown’s actions as premeditated, noting the significant threat posed to the local political system. Following his prison term, Brown will be under supervised release for five years.
Brown, who had been recognized as a promising student and was a columnist for a local newspaper while also campaigning for a position on the city council, expressed remorse to Greenberg and the staff present during the February 14, 2022, shooting. “When I shot that gun, I taught everyone a wrong lesson,” he stated, looking out at Greenberg, who attended the hearing with his wife. “I deeply regret causing this trauma.”
Initially, following the shooting, Brown was charged with attempted murder but was released on bail shortly after, prompting outrage from Greenberg and other city officials. Greenberg expressed disbelief that someone could attempt murder and be released from jail so quickly.
Federal authorities launched a thorough investigation into the incident, leading to an indictment against Brown in April. Prosecutors noted that Brown had researched Greenberg’s campaign office and family details online and had purchased a firearm. He had even visited Greenberg’s residence the night before the shooting, though he encountered a malfunction with the gun at that time.
The next day, Brown acquired another firearm from a pawn shop and proceeded to the campaign office, where he discharged several rounds while Greenberg was seated at his desk, as per federal authorities.
Brown’s defense team requested a lenient sentence, arguing that the shooting was a result of a mental health crisis and noted his lack of a prior criminal history. Currently, he still has pending charges of attempted murder and wanton endangerment in state court, but these cases are shelved while the federal proceedings take priority. It is anticipated that the state charges will not extend Brown’s overall sentence.
