Wayne Winston remembers driving by a home on Reservoir Avenue in 1999 and seeing the property swarming with police.

"It was an absolute nightmare to find out later that a mom and her little boy had been shot to death at that house, in what would go on to become one of Connecticut's most notorious murder cases," Winston said.

"I cannot believe [former President Joe] Biden would grant clemency to Adrian Peeler, who pulled the trigger on the orders of his brother, Russell Peeler. It's a disgrace and an insult to the memories of the two victims," Winston said.

In the final moments of his presidency, Biden commuted a federal drug sentence for Adrian Peeler, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Karen Clarke and BJ Brown.

Prosecutors say Peeler shot the pair on the orders of his brother, Russell Peeler, who was later sentenced to death for the murders - though his sentence was later changed to life in prison without the possibility of parole when Connecticut eliminated the death penalty.

Brown was supposed to be a key witness against Russell Peeler in a deadly shooting.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal says Adrian Peeler will soon be released from prison.

"My hope is this astonishing, appalling decision for clemency will help support and fuel a movement for reform - an effort I'm proud to be leading," Blumenthal said.