A man who was released from jail in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst inmates was arrested on a murder charge just a day later, CNN reports.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Joseph Williams, 26, has been reincarcerated on multiple new charges - one of which includes second-degree murder with a firearm.
On March 19, more than 100 of the jail's inmates were released over coronavirus concerns. Williams was arrested for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia less than a week earlier, on March 13.
It's not just in US prison systems that concerns are being raised over coronavirus:On March 20, just a day after he was released, Williams became the suspect of a murder. Earlier that day, police received reports of gunshots in a Tampa neighborhood and discovered a man who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to CNN affiliate WFLA.
"There is no question Joseph Williams took advantage of this health emergency to commit crimes while he was out of jail awaiting resolution of a low-level, non-violent offense," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement per CNN.
"Every murder, every violent crime, especially those involving a gun, is a sickening example of the worst in our community, especially at a time when our community is working relentlessly to fight against the spread of this deadly COVID-19."
According to court records, Williams is back in custody without bond. The 26-year-old felon was arrested on Sunday on charges of second-degree murder, resisting an officer, being in possession of a firearm, being in possession of heroin and being in possession of drug paraphernalia.
"Judges, prosecutors, and Sheriffs around the country are facing difficult decisions during this health crisis with respect to balancing public health and public safety," added Chronister. "Sheriffs in Florida and throughout our country have released non-violent, low-level offenders to protect our deputies and the jail population from an outbreak."
