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The man accused of shooting and killing a 9-year-old girl in Ferguson, Mo., has a record of lawless behavior. De’eris Brown, who is 21, pleaded guilty in 2014 to second-degree felony robbery charges. He was also charged for a separate incident in which he was said to have illegally displayed a firearm; that case was dropped due to lack of cooperation from the victim, according to the St. Charles County Prosecutor’s Office.
It is unknown what Brown’s motivation was when he allegedly opened fire on the young girl’s house—wounding her mother as well—but it is clear that a justice system that fails to keep dangerous criminals behind bars is a major contributor to violence in our urban communities.
