The killer of a cop in Washington DC who coldly executed his victim may be granted early release under a progressive new law.  

Marthell Dean was 23 years old when he fatally shot 28-year-old Officer Brian Gibson four times in the head and shoulder at around 3am in 1997. 

Now, the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act may grant him his freedom. 

The controversial law from 2016 allows convicts who were under the age of 24 when they committed their crimes to be granted early release or a reduced sentence if they had already served 15 years behind bars. 

Dean’s petition to be released, however, is strongly opposed by Gibson’s grieving family, as well as federal prosecutors, Police Chief Jeffery Carroll and the police labor union, The Washington Post reported. 

Carroll said in a statement to the outlet that the ‘vow to never forget is not a hollow one,’ describing Dean as the person ‘responsible for this heinous act’ who ‘should remain incarcerated for the rest of his life.’

Gibson was killed in February 1997, as the court heard that Dean had been angry for being thrown out of the Ibex nightclub by an off-duty officer, NBC 4 reported. 

Terrica Gibson, the officer’s sister, told the outlet: ‘One of the many things that’s always hurt me the most if Brian was shot in the shoulder first, which means he may well have known what was coming.’

Washington DC Police Officer Brian Gibson, 28, was shot and killed by Marthell Dean, who was 23 at the time, in February 1997 after he became angry for being escorted out of a nightclub

Dean may now be granted early release due to the controversial Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act from 2016, which was updated to allow convicts who were 24 years old or under at the time of their crime to be eligible for a reduced sentence 

Gibson’s mother, Shirley Gibson, said at the time that Dean’s sentencing of life without parole brought her ‘a little comfort’ 

‘I have to say, part of me is very sad. My mother is no longer here. But then part of me is happy that she isn’t seeing this, because it was devastate her,’ she added. 

Gibson’s mother, Shirley Gibson, said at the time that Dean’s sentencing of life without parole brought her ‘a little comfort.’ 

Shirley then spent years serving Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners to DC police officers until her death in July 2021.

Gibson’s mother was described as ‘Law Enforcement’s Mom’ in the years after Gibson’s death, according to numerous social media posts. 

‘Shirley turned her pain into passion… and served as the National President of Concerns of Police Survivors. She was always our “go to” speaker at the Memorial Fund whenever we needed an inspirational voice,’ Craig Floyd, founder of Citizens Behind the Badge and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, wrote on Facebook after Shirley’s death. 

Now, with both of her parents gone, Terrica will be providing an impact statement on behalf of her family to oppose Dean’s release. 

‘I’m really alone. That family of four that was so perfect is now gone, and it’s just me, but I will fight because it’s me and I will take care of him,’ Terrica told NBC 4. 

Gibson was a Marine Corps reservist who served in Operation Desert Storm, the Post reported. He left behind a wife and two daughters, one just 13 months old at the time of this death. 

Terrica Gibson, Gibson’s sister, is strongly opposing Dean’s release and said that it ‘takes away from the fact that a good man was senselessly murdered’

Gibson, seen pictured, left behind a wife and two daughters, one who was just 13 months old when he was killed

‘He has a grandson and a granddaughter that he will never see and they never got to know him,’ Terrica said. 

The devastating impact of Gibson’s death highlighted the opposition toward the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act. While some believe the law holds importance to recognize rehabilitation within the prison system, others have argued that it allows violent offenders a ‘get out of jail free’ card.

Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for DC, told the Post: ‘It’s essentially a “get out of jail early” ticket for repeated, serial, cold-blooded killers. It’s inconsistent with a civil society.’

‘It spits in the face of every grieving family. This isn’t reform. This is pure evil dressed up as compassion,’ Pirro added. 

From when the law was implemented up until 2023, 155 people had been granted early release with around 90 percent not being charged with another crime, the Post reported. 

According to Pirro, around 80 percent of petitions are granted by judges. 

The controversial law has faced criticism and opposition from both federal prosecutors appointed under former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. 

Greggory Pemberton, the police union chairman, told the outlet that Gibson’s murder was ‘a profound wound that still echoes.’

Shirley spent years serving Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners to DC police officers until her death in July 2021. Gibson’s mother was described as ‘Law Enforcement’s Mom’

Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for DC, described the controversial law as ‘essentially a “get out of jail early” ticket’ for violent offenders 

Greggory Pemberton, the police union chairman, said the early release of Dean ‘sends the worst message’ possible, allowing those who ‘intentionally murder a police officer’ to receice ‘worst case scenario… 15 years in prison’

‘It reminded every officer of the mortal risks we face daily,’ Pemberton added. ‘The pain remains permanent: no more anniversaries, no father-daughter dances, no grandfather stories. Brian is gone forever because of Dean’s actions.’

Dean’s petition remains sealed, and his arguments for early release remain unclear. The Act he is looking to make use of was originally intended for offenders who committed a crime under the age of 18 and had served at least 20 years behind bars. 

However, it was amended under the Second Look Amendment Act of 2019 to raise the qualifying age and lower the necessary time served.

The criteria also includes maturity, rehabilitation and a low chance of reoffending, which would allow the judge to allow for early release ‘despite the brutality or cold-blooded nature of any particular offense,’ according to the Post. 

Officials have said that repeat offenders following early release are around three percent, while Pirro noted a case of one offender who was convicted of murdering a child at age 16. 

The offender was granted early release in August 2020 and arrested one year later for another murder, the Post reported. 

Erin Pinder, the executive director of the Second Look Project – an organization which represents those seeking release – declined to comment to the Post. 

In statements she referred the outlet to, Pinder said the Act ‘gives judges the tools to evaluate rehabilitation, account for the maturity that comes with time and ensure that individuals who no longer pose a danger to the public have a meaningful path home.’ 

‘This is not leniency. It is sound policy, grounded in decades of research showing that people age out of violent crime as they mature,’ Pinder said. 

In a letter provided by the police union to the Post, Terrica wrote: ‘Brian is gone forever because of Marthell Dean.’

She added in her opposition of Dean’s release that it ‘takes away from the fact that a good man was senselessly murdered.’

Pemberton said in a post from the DC Police Union: ‘This sends the worst message we could possibly imagine that if you senselessly, intentionally murder a police officer – Worst case scenario, you do 15 years in prison.’