3-Year Sentence Offered To Norwalk Mass Shooting Threat Suspect

STAMFORD, CT — The Norwalk man accused of plotting a mass shooting in 2019 was offered a plea deal by prosecutors of three years in prison, but his attorney said he had not had a chance to discuss it with his client before the state's Wednesday deadline to accept it.

The state's offer to suspect Brandon Wagshol was announced Wednesday during a hearing in Stamford Superior Court in which only his attorney, Darnell Crosland, was present. Wagshol, who remains in custody, could hear the proceedings via teleconference, but was not shown on a court monitor.

When the three-year plea offer was made by Assistant State's Attorney Daniel Cummings was not disclosed, but according to his office, the deal was contingent upon Wagshol and Crosland accepting it by Wednesday. Whether the deal will be revisited in the future is not known.

Wagshol, 23, was first arrested in August 2019 and charged with four counts of illegal possession of large capacity [gun] magazines, in what police said was part of a plot to carry out a mass shooting.

While free on bond and living with his father, Wagshol was arrested again in February 2020 on assault and disorderly conduct charges following a domestic altercation.

Wagshol recently underwent a psychological evaluation and was found to be competent to stand trial, Judge Gary White announced in court, though the report says that Wagshol "has a diagnosis of Schizophrenia."

He has delusions of having served in the military, according to evaluators, and he remains on antipsychotic medication.

"He has the capacity to rationally assess what is in his legal best interest," the evaluators wrote. "He can follow testimony for contradictions and errors, bring relevant information to his attorney's attention, testify and be cross-examined, understand instructions and advice, and make informed decisions about the handling of his case."

After the hearing, Crosland said the competency report was requested because Wagshol "appeared to be struggling."

He also blasted the prosecution for pulling the offer when he had not had a chance to discuss it with his client.

"They're being unreasonable at this point," Crosland said.

Wagshol's next court hearing is scheduled for April 14.