The man who opened fire along Memorial Drive in Cambridge on Monday was involved in a previous shootout with Boston police nearly six years ago, sources confirmed to NewsCenter 5.Several witnesses described the gunman firing at random into traffic along the busy road at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Two bystanders who were sitting in their cars near the shooting were struck and suffered life-threatening injuries. They are receiving treatment at a Boston hospital.Joseph Minino Rodriguez, who saw the incident unfolding from his apartment on the 18th floor, said that the shooter “just straight up gets into a gunfight with the cops” while he was watching.NewsCenter 5 has learned the shooter was Tyler Brown, 46. Brown suffered injuries and was placed in police custody, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.Brown pleaded guilty in 2021 to charges including armed assault with intent to murder and attempted assault and battery by means of discharging a firearm for firing at a Boston police officer.In that incident, on May 16, 2020, prosecutors said Brown fired a total of 13 rounds at police who were responding to a 911 call about a man with a gun and two officers returned fire. No one was hit in the exchange.At the time of that shooting, Brown was on probation in connection with a 2014 conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation.In a statement issued in 2021, then-District Attorney Rachel Rollins criticized the five-to-six-year prison sentence imposed on Brown following his guilty plea. Prosecutors asked for 10 to 12 years.“My office recommended a significant sentence for Mr. Brown, given the nature of his offenses and the ​trauma and harm he inflicted. I am disappointed in the sentence that was imposed,” Rollins wrote in her statement.One of the officers involved in that 2020 attack wrote in a victim impact statement saying: “I am a firm believer that when Mr. Tyler Brown gets out, he will hurt, or worse, kill someone,” the officer said. “Probation apparently means nothing to Mr. Tyler Brown, nor does the value of life.”Ryan confirmed that Brown was on probation at the time of the shooting.

BOSTON —

The man who opened fire along Memorial Drive in Cambridge on Monday was involved in a previous shootout with Boston police nearly six years ago, sources confirmed to NewsCenter 5.

Several witnesses described the gunman firing at random into traffic along the busy road at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

Two bystanders who were sitting in their cars near the shooting were struck and suffered life-threatening injuries. They are receiving treatment at a Boston hospital.

Joseph Minino Rodriguez, who saw the incident unfolding from his apartment on the 18th floor, said that the shooter “just straight up gets into a gunfight with the cops” while he was watching.

NewsCenter 5 has learned the shooter was Tyler Brown, 46. Brown suffered injuries and was placed in police custody, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.

Brown pleaded guilty in 2021 to charges including armed assault with intent to murder and attempted assault and battery by means of discharging a firearm for firing at a Boston police officer.

In that incident, on May 16, 2020, prosecutors said Brown fired a total of 13 rounds at police who were responding to a 911 call about a man with a gun and two officers returned fire. No one was hit in the exchange.

At the time of that shooting, Brown was on probation in connection with a 2014 conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation.

In a statement issued in 2021, then-District Attorney Rachel Rollins criticized the five-to-six-year prison sentence imposed on Brown following his guilty plea. Prosecutors asked for 10 to 12 years.

“My office recommended a significant sentence for Mr. Brown, given the nature of his offenses and the ​trauma and harm he inflicted. I am disappointed in the sentence that was imposed,” Rollins wrote in her statement.

One of the officers involved in that 2020 attack wrote in a victim impact statement saying: “I am a firm believer that when Mr. Tyler Brown gets out, he will hurt, or worse, kill someone,” the officer said. “Probation apparently means nothing to Mr. Tyler Brown, nor does the value of life.”

Ryan confirmed that Brown was on probation at the time of the shooting.