Edward Richmond Jr. had been arrested after authorities raided his Louisiana home and found an AR-15 and ammunition on Jan. 22.
Edward Richmond Jr., who was arrested following a raid on his Louisiana residence where authorities discovered an AR-15 rifle and ammunition on Jan. 22, has been granted release by a judge despite objections from federal prosecutors. According to The Associated Press, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyman Thornton III argued that Richmond posed a risk due to his “very aggressive posture toward law enforcement” and a history of violence, including the fatal shooting of a handcuffed Iraqi detainee when he was 20 years old. Thornton further asserted that Richmond’s alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection was indicative of “a culmination of deep-seated anger toward law enforcement.”
However, following a detention hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Erin Wilder-Doomes ruled in favor of Richmond’s release on Jan. 23. Wilder-Doomes reasoned that the hearing revealed Richmond’s connections to his community and portrayed him as a devoted parent, leading to the decision for his release.