Cambridge Shooting Suspect To Remain Held Without Bail

CAMBRIDGE, MA — The suspect in the Memorial Drive shooting will continue to be held without bail after appearing in court Wednesday.

Tyler Brown, 46, appeared in court on Wednesday, Aug. 26, more than three months after he allegedly opened fire on motorists along Memorial Drive on Monday, May 11. Brown is accused of shooting two people before exchanging gunfire with law enforcement and an armed civilian.

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Brown has remained in custody since he was deemed dangerous during a hearing one week after his initial arraignment. Assistant District Attorney Nicole Allain presented nine pieces of evidence at the time to support the prosecution's argument that Brown should remain in custody, including video from the shooting and Brown's criminal record that dates back 30 years.

Two motorists were seriously injured during the shooting. One of the victims was identified as Casmir Bangoura, 34, a Cambridge resident and DoorDash driver who was returning to his apartment when Brown allegedly approached his vehicle and opened fire. Bangoura was shot four times in the leg.

The other victim, an MBTA bus driver and father of eight, was shot in the back of the head while attempting to drive away from the scene. He was able to drive himself to the hospital despite his injuries. Both victims were later released from the hospital and were expected to fully recover.

When law enforcement responded to the shooting, Brown allegedly began firing at officers as well. More than 60 rounds were reportedly fired during the incident before Brown was shot multiple times by a Massachusetts State Police trooper and a former Marine who had a license to carry. Brown ultimately surrendered and was transported to the hospital.

Brown made his initial court appearance virtually from his hospital bed on Thursday, May 14. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, carrying a firearm without a license and possessing a large-capacity firearm. Prosecutors identified the weapon allegedly used in the shooting as a multi-caliber Defense Model BCI assault rifle.

Brown was on parole at the time of the incident stemming from a shootout with Boston Police in the spring of 2020. He later pleaded guilty to eight charges in connection with that incident, including armed assault with intent to murder and attempted assault and battery by discharging a firearm. Brown was sentenced to five to six years in state prison before being released on parole in 2025.

Brown was also on probation during the 2020 shooting stemming from a 2014 conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation. His criminal history in Massachusetts dates back to at least 2009, while prosecutors have said his first conviction was for armed robbery in Michigan in 1994.

According to Brown's parole officer, Brown had recently relapsed on crack cocaine and expressed suicidal thoughts in the days leading up to the Memorial Drive shooting. Brown also reportedly displayed a rifle during a video call with the parole officer. A neighbor corroborated that Brown had been acting erratically the night before the shooting and had also been drinking alcohol.

Brown had been released from McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Belmont on Friday, May 8, three days before the shooting.

Brown has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The case remains ongoing.

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