State Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz said East Hartford convenience store murder suspect Kezlyn Mendez, was released from prison early as a result of the state's new Risk Reduction Earned Credit Program.
"We want the program halted," Cruz said. "It needs to be looked at for what exactly are we getting credits for? Who is supervising all these individuals?"
The 25-year-old Mendez was in court Tuesday.
He was caught on tape allegedly pulling out a gun inside the Circle H Food Mart Saturday night and shooting Luthfur Tarafdar in the chest seconds later. He's then seen running off with the store's cash register. According to the arrest warrant application, the suspect left evidence behind at the crime scene including his cell phone and fingerprints on items he placed on the counter before the shooting.
Mendez had been in and out of jail for years.
His violent past includes a robbery and assault conviction in 2006 as well as probation violations in 2010 and 2011.
Mendez was out of jail, when the alleged murder happened Saturday.
Governor Malloy's Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy says the incident did not have to with the early release program.
Mike Lawlor said the Mendez's sentences were unjustly reduced, including his most recent probation violation.
"If prosecutors had been serious about dealing with someone who is clearly a bad guy, this terrible situation would have turned out differently," Lawlor said.
