GUNNED DOWN
Family’s fury after felon ‘shoots dead mom-of-two, 21,’ just days after early prison release due to coronavirus
A FAMILY have revealed their fury after a prisoner released early amid coronavirus concerns allegedly shot and killed a young mom.
Cornelius Haney, 40, is accused of killing 21-year-old Heather Perry in an alleyway in Denver, Colorado, on May 9.
2
2
Haney, given a seven-year jail term in June 2016 after pleading guilty to armed robbery, had been released by a parole board on April 15.
He had been eligible for parole since 2017, and had been scheduled for mandatory release in August.
States across the US have begun releasing eligible prisoners early because of fears the could spread quickly through densely-populated jails.
Haney was arrested the same day Perry was discovered after police linked him to the crime scene using security footage.
Authorities are yet to announce any possible motive for the killing.
This man shouldn’t have been on the street."
Ashley Thompson, victim's cousin
Speaking to , Perry's cousin, Ashley Thompson, questioned the decision to release Haney.
She said: “This man shouldn’t have been on the street.
“We are a mess. My whole family, they are pretty ripped apart. She was our baby.
"[He] took a mother, took a daughter, and no amount of whatever you throw at that man will ever get her back."
Haney reportedly has a criminal record dating back to 1998.
Nobody should be released simply because of Covid-19."
Jared Polis, state governor
Last month, state governor Jared Polis took executive action to lower the prison population amid the ongoing crisis.
Asked about the release of Haney on Friday, Polis said: "Nobody should be released simply because of Covid-19.
"Of course, the parole board can make individual evaluations and that is a tough job that they do.
MOST READ IN US NEWS
"Nobody on that parole board thought that this person was going to do what they allegedly did.
"They’re doing their best to make the best informed decisions they can to keep Coloradans safe, as they decide within the legal parameters.
"But they couldn’t have held them much longer under the law.”
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.
Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at .
Topics