LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The man accused of shooting at Craig Greenberg while he was campaigning for Louisville mayor in 2022 has pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Quintez Brown is charged with interfering with an election and using a weapon in a criminal act. He previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was in court Friday for a change of plea hearing.
Brown's plea agreement is conditional on the judge's sentencing approval. He could face between 15 to 18 years in prison.
Authorities said Brown walked into Greenberg's campaign office on Feb. 14, 2022 and fired several rounds at the Democrat and his campaign staff. No one was injured in the shooting, however a bullet grazed Greenberg's sweater.
"I respect our legal system and accept this result. I’m relieved the other victims and our families won’t have to relive that horrific experience during a trial. Violence has no place in our political world." Greenberg said in a statement after Friday's hearing. "As a fortunate survivor, I will continue to work with strong resolve to end gun violence in our city and country."
In federal court Friday, the judge detailed terms of Brown's plea agreement, asking directly if he specifically targeted Greenberg because of his campaign. The 23-year-old defendant didn't hesitate, answering "yes sir."
Earlier this week, Greenberg said the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump brought back the painful memories and the impact it had on his life.
“My heart dropped,” the mayor said Monday. "The memories and feelings of surviving an assassination attempt during a political campaign are still very fresh for me. A life-changing event like this can make us better or it can make us bitter.”
Brown is also facing charges in state court for attempted murder and wanton endangerment, with a penalty of up to ten years in prison. In federal court Friday, Brown's attorneys said state prosecutors agreed to have that sentence run concurrent with the federal sentence.
That means Brown would not face any additional time in jail on top of the 15 to 18 years.
Court documents allege Brown was "building to the attempted murder" 35 days prior to the shooting when he published an article on a blogging platform titled: "A Revolutionary Love Letter." In the article, Brown allegedly wrote "voting and petitioning will not be sufficient for our liberation."
Days later, he then purchased a handgun and went to a shooting range to practice handling the firearm.
Four days prior to the shooting, authorities said Brown began researching Greenberg and looked for the campaign office's address. The day before the shooting, Brown allegedly went to Greenberg's home.
Brown's defense was planning to use an insanity defense, with an expert previously finding Brown "was suffering from a mental disease or defect such that he was not able to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law."
While Brown was in federal custody in 2023, prosecutors had him sent to a federal facility in Seattle for three months where he was subject to "intense" mental health evaluations, according to attorneys.
In May, a federal judge denied the prosecution's motion for an additional mental health evaluation of Brown saying their expert found no evidence of diminished mental capacity while he was in Seattle.
On Friday, when a judge asked if Brown had a mental illness affecting his ability to understand the situation fully, he answered, "Nothing that would affect my judgment or rationale."
A judge will make a final sentencing decision on October 21.
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