Florida Man Freed From Jail Over Covid-19, Murdered’s Someone The Next Day

A Florida man released from jail last month to help limit coronavirus outbreaks in county lockups was arrested again Monday — accused of murdering a man the day after his release, a report said.

Joseph Edwards Williams was facing drug charges when he and 163 other inmates — considered low level offenders — were sprung from Hillsborough County Jail on March 19, according to WFLA, citing the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities believe that Williams was the triggerman who fatally shot a man the next day in the Progress Village area, the report said.

Williams was arrested on a warrant Monday in Gibsonton.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister slammed Williams, claiming “he took advantage” of the administrative order to free inmates amid the coronavirus pandemic to “commit crimes.”

“As a result, I call on the State Attorney to prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law,” Chronister said.

Williams was arraigned via video appearance Tuesday and ordered held on a more than $250,000 bond, WFLA reported.