In a park named for the 8-year-old victim in a heinous double murder, Bridgeport leaders expressed their disgust, anger and frustration over the early release of a man convicted in connection with the killings.

Adrian Peeler walked out of a federal prison in West Virginia on Wednesday, to the disbelief of Mayor Joe Ganin, who said the details surrounding Peeler’s clemency and release haven’t been shared with city officials.

“I was mayor in 1999 when this happened,” Ganim stated. “Our recollections still feel like a punch to the stomach.”

The killings of Leroy “B.J.” Brown and his mother, Karen Clarke, shocked the city and led to changes in the state’s witness protection program. The two were found shot to death in their home before the boy could testify against Peeler’s brother, Russell Peeler, at his murder trial.

“This was an execution. This was a targeted execution to keep these individuals from testifying on a crime,” said Chief Roderick Porter, who was with the police department then, as well.

Prosecutors said Peeler killed Brown and Clarke on the orders of his brother. Though he was identified by an eyewitness as the boy's shooter, a jury only convicted Peeler on conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced to 25 years in state prison and after completing that, began serving a 15-year term in federal prison for running a major drug operation. Peeler was supposed to remain behind bars until 2033. Instead, the now 49-year-old was one of thousands of people whose drug-related prison terms were commuted by former President Joe Biden in his last days in office. Biden said the clemency actions were for people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

“We demand answers! We want action in addition to answers, but on top of that, for this to be investigated. How could this happen?” Ganim questioned, calling the decision by Biden “unspeakable.”

“This is not what our criminal justice system is about. It's not what we expect as a community,” Porter added.

That community is now on edge, according to local leaders. Ganim said they don’t know where Peeler currently is, but there’s major worry he will return to the city where he and his brother were drug kingpins in the 90s.

“People are scared. We've gotten the calls from victims’ advocates,” explained Ganim. “I'm concerned. The chief's concerned. Anybody who calls Bridgeport home and beyond should be concerned.”

“These are the type of individuals you do not want on our streets,” echoed Porter.

That’s especially because the city hasn’t been given any information about oversight.

“Is there supervised release? Is there parole? Is there probation? Is there somebody to report to? Or does this fall into the lap of the city of Bridgeport to deal with someone who is a hired killer, who killed an 8-year-old child and his mother,” asked Ganim.

The mayor is no stranger to second chances. Ganim was re-elected after serving time in federal prison on corruption charges. He strongly believes in rehabilitation but doesn't see a path here.

“It's with some reservation and thought for me to stand here and say, ‘Wait a minute. What's going on?’” Ganim explained. “It’s not something that under these circumstances and how this came about, that we feel comfortable getting behind in the city of Bridgeport—just the opposite.”

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