A Louisiana Army veteran who was sentenced for the murder of an unarmed Iraqi civilian while serving abroad will be sent to jail for attacking Capitol security officers on January 6.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release that U.S. District Judge John D. Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, sentenced Edward Richmond Jr., 40, to 51 months or more than four years in prison on Monday.
In August, Richmond entered a guilty plea to assaulting authorities while brandishing a lethal or dangerous weapon.
Prosecutors noted in their sentencing document that Richmond attacked police officers at the entrance to the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, which was the site of some of the most violent riots that day, and that he was requesting a sentence of 63 months in jail. For about two hours, he led the crowd against the officers in the Tunnel while fully outfitted in tactical gear. We’ll break you, motherf! he said as he attacked officers with a baton!
Additionally, he stole a police shield and helmet from the policemen and distributed them to the crowd. In order to aid rioters in overwhelming tired, wounded, and bloodied police officers who were standing shoulder to shoulder with their body weight to contain the assault, he also passed a 6-foot wooden board into the tunnel. Through a shattered window, Richmond also brought Capitol furnishings into the crowd.
Prosecutors claimed that the Army veteran’s three-year court martial in 2004 for using a rifle to shoot a detained Iraqi cow herder in the head while on tour in Tikrit did not discourage him. Prosecutors further stated that when he was taken into custody in January 2024 in connection with the Jan. 6 case, he possessed a loaded AR-15 assault gun at his house.
Prosecutors stated that the sentencing must now take into account both his aggressive behavior on January 6, 2021, and those troubling decisions.
Richmond’s attorneys stated in his sentencing memo that although he was there that day to offer security for a gathering of people, he has shown a great deal of acceptance of responsibility.
According to the statement, Mr. Richmond had a successful life as a solar panel technician and a single father to his son between January 6, 2021, and the day of his arrest. A downward variation sentence is appropriate for him.
Before he marched on the Capitol and confronted the police, Richmond, according to the prosecution, was part of a security squad that was paid to go with nine individuals to rallies in support of Donald Trump on the day that Congress certified the 2020 presidential winner. He once struck officers many times with a metal baton while they were at the tunnel’s mouth.
According to Law&Crime, he was arrested on January 22, 2024, but was not taken into custody right away. He has a violent past and might lash out again if he isn’t held, according to government lawyers who filed an urgent plea to remand him. Richmond’s detention was ordered by a judge who granted the government’s request.
Politico claims that the court declared it to be a tight call. According to reports, the AR-15—which he was prohibited from possessing due to his manslaughter conviction—was the decisive element.
In 2004, Richmond was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death in Iraq. A military panel found that during a suspected insurgent roundup, Richmond shot Muhamad Husain Kadir in the head as he was being taken into custody by troops. Richmond stated during his trial that he believed the man was going to attack a soldier and was unaware that he was handcuffed, according to the Associated Press.
The tribunal decided to drop the initial accusation of unpremeditated murder, which carried a possible life sentence, in favor of voluntary manslaughter.
Richmond received a three-year military prison sentence and was dishonorably discharged.
This report was provided to by Marisa Sarnoff of Law&Crime.
Do you have a tip we ought to know?[email protected]
Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply