Federal judge releases internet search history for suspect accused of shooting at mayoral candidate

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville man accused of trying to kill a mayoral candidate looked at online profiles for at least three other candidates in the same race.

A federal judge unsealed 800 pages of Quintez Brown's web history Thursday, showing what he was searching for in the days leading up to the shooting.

Court records show Brown watched a YouTube video demonstrating what happens if you load a gun with the bullets backward the day before police said he tried to shoot and kill Craig Greenberg. Records also show Brown searched for guns and how to buy one at a pawn shop.

Police said he used that information Feb. 14 when he showed up at Greenberg's Butchertown campaign headquarters and opened fire. No one was injured, but a bullet grazed Greenberg's sweater, leaving a small rip.

Brown is charged in both state and federal court. The records released Thursday also reveal searches for Greenberg's address, his kids and many visits to his various social media pages.

The court documents also showed Brown searched for Bill Dieruf, a Republican candidate in the Louisville mayor's race and current leader in Jeffersontown.

"Somebody who has committed a serious crime, that is a threat," Dieruf said. "We need to keep them incarcerated until which time they are set free by the courts."

On the same day of the shooting at Greenberg's office, Brown searched for the Jeffersontown City Hall. Dieruf said the FBI alerted him, but he's not concerned.

"The fact that somebody Googled me, it wakes you up," he said. "But it's nothing compared to the mother who has lost a child, not even close to it. So the thought of saying, 'Why aren't you (concerned)?' It's not there because my concern is keeping the rest of the community safe."

In a statement to the media Thursday afternoon, Dieruf said the knowledge doesn't change his daily life or the way he runs the city of Jeffersontown.

"As mayor for the past 11 years, I'm sure my name has been Googled many times for various reasons," he said. "Jeffersontown Police Chief Rick Sanders and I met with FBI agents then regarding what they found and were told the information was confidential because of the ongoing investigation."

This comes about two weeks after federal prosecutors laid out Brown's search history during an April 15 detainment hearing in an attempt to keep him behind bars without bond. At that hearing, prosecutors claimed Brown went to Greenberg's home on Feb. 13 with a gun, which jammed when a bullet was put in backward. The next day, Brown bought a new gun at a pawn shop and headed to Greenberg's campaign office.

A federal magistrate judge granted Brown's release on home incarceration, but prosecutors appealed, keeping him in jail.

A detention hearing was held for Brown on Thursday, where Western District of Kentucky Judge Benjamin Beaton said he will issue a written ruling sometime next week.

Prosecutors are trying to frame Brown as calculated and dangerous. But the defense said the activist, writer, and once star student is battling mental illness. His online footprint now something that could be used to bolster both sides of the case.

Brown will remain in custody while Beaton considers his case.

Data also shows Brown's visits to the campaign pages of mayoral candidates Tim Findley Jr. and Shameka Parrish Wright, both Democrats. Findley declined to comment for this story.

Parrish Wright released the following statement to WDRB News after this story was published.

"Everyday my team and I get questions about this. It's all tragic but not in anyway connected to me and my campaign. I have never even had a one on one with Quintez Brown but knew of him and shared on social media when he was missing. During the Justice for Breonna Taylor Movement I was available and accessible to everyone especially young people. The last I saw Quintez was at our People Power event o February 5th. I didn't even recognize him until it was open mic and he spoke about his campaign for Metro Council and a project he was working on. I was brought in to speak with the FBI to determine if I was to be a withness with my lawyer Ted Shouse because of these rumors that I paid his bail and that he did it to "help me". So many are hurting on all ends because of what happened on Valentines Day.

"The organization I work for is The Bail Project and we had nothing to do with his bail payment and have never paid a bail at that amount. I am running a good, clean and honest people powered campaign. I have always worn many hats in our community and reached out as a victim of gun violence, rape, childhood trauma and a survivor to my oppenent. I don't wish violence on anyone especially another candidate. We put ourselves out there when we run & it's not easy especially as the only woman and black woman in this race. My husband, children, family and friends worry about me daily. They know I am strong & focused but there are hidden agendas:-( When I stepped up in 2020 while our city was hurting my life was threatened. Nevertheless I stepped up & used every resource I could to help and bring us together. Our work at Injustice Square stopped alot of violence & destruction we will never get credit for it. I didn't even know many of the candidates for mayor then. It's sad that people keep trying to use this terrible incident to attack good bail reform work, my integrity and my candidacy. This matter is now being handled by our criminal legal system locally and now federally."

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