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A Florida man was accused of murdering a man hours after being released from jail last month over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
Joseph Edwards Williams, 26, was arrested Monday in Tampa on charges of second-degree murder in connection with a March 20 homicide. He also faces charges of felony firearm possession, heroin possession, and resisting arrest.
Hillsborough County arrest records show that Williams was released from jail on March 19 after a week in custody on charges of possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia.
WFLA reports that Williams was one of 164 inmates that the Hillsbourough County sheriff’s office released early in order to slow the spread of coronavirus at the county jail.
Jails across the country have released inmates in order to prevent large scale outbreaks of coronavirus. Judges have also granted reprieve to prisoners and inmates whose underlying health conditions make them vulnerable to coronavirus.
“We want to protect our employees here. We want to protect the remainder of the jail population. We also feel these low-level, non-violent offenders will be better served at home with their families,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said at the time of the mass inmate release.