Quintez Brown Gets 10 Years for Mayoral Campaign Shooting

Quintez Brown, 24, received a 10-year state sentence after pleading guilty to attempted murder and four counts of wanton endangerment in Kentucky state court, to be served concurrently with a 17.5-year federal prison term he received in January 2025.

. In separate state proceedings, Brown pleaded guilty to attempted murder and four counts of wanton endangerment related to the February 2022 shooting at Craig Greenberg’s campaign office. The shooting took place inside Greenberg’s campaign headquarters while he was actively running for mayor of Louisville, Kentucky. Brown will serve the 10-year sentence concurrently with a 17.5-year federal prison term he received in January 2025. After completing his sentence, Brown will be under supervised release for five years.

Brown, once hailed as a young activist and briefly affiliated with left-leaning movements, shocked the community when he walked into Greenberg’s office and opened fire. No one was physically injured in the attack, but the incident caused a national stir due to its political overtones and the apparent targeting of a Democratic candidate.

During his sentencing, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Julie Kaelin heard emotional testimony from both supporters of Brown and those affected by the shooting. Brown addressed the court, expressing regret and asking for continued mental health treatment while incarcerated. “I’m sorry. I love you all. I’m so sorry; what I did tore us apart,” he said, according to reporting by local news station WDRB.

Although Brown faced the possibility of a life sentence at the federal level, prosecutors ultimately secured a plea agreement that combined both state and federal penalties. Victims in the case did not request financial restitution, and prosecutors did not pursue additional charges beyond those already included in the plea deal.

Brown’s legal team has emphasized his ongoing struggles with mental health, a factor the court took into consideration but did not allow to overshadow the severity of the crime. The attack raised broader concerns about political violence and personal accountability, especially amid growing public unease about ideological extremism.

While some progressive voices previously championed Brown as a symbol of racial justice and youth engagement, his actions have since cast a long shadow over that narrative. Critics argue that the case is another example of soft-on-crime rhetoric enabling dangerous outcomes, an issue that continues to undermine public safety, particularly in Democrat-led cities like Louisville.

Brown’s sentence brings some closure to a high-profile case that could have ended in tragedy. With his legal fate now sealed, the focus shifts to how such violent acts are addressed and prevented in a deeply divided political climate.