Canton man sentenced in attempted murder trial
A Canton man was sentenced to 20 years after he pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a woman at a motel last year.
District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced Tuesday that Broderick Giles, 34, of Canton pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder and was sentenced to serve 20 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections without the possibility of early release or parole.
“He will not qualify for early release or parole because he is considered a habitual offender based on his prior felony convictions of business burglary and grand larceny,’ Bramlett said.
On June 25, 2022, Malissa and Derik Wood, of Hamilton, Mississippi, stopped in Canton at the LaQuinta Inn in an attempt to rent a room for the night, Bramlett said.
While Derik was at the front desk, Giles approached their vehicle and tried to steal their car. He shot through the front window of the car and the bullet hit Mrs. Wood in her side.
“This couple was simply looking for a place to stay the night while on the road,” Bramlett said. “And Mrs. Woods almost gave her life for it. That is unacceptable in Madison and Rankin counties, and I hope this conviction will send that message.”
Officers with the Canton Police Department responded to the scene and were able to obtain spent shell casings, surveillance tapes, and eyewitness statements of others who were nearby during the attack.
Later that year, on July 5, officers made a routine traffic stop on a car in which Giles was riding.
Bramlett said he was in possession of a firearm that was consistent with shell casings recovered from the crime scene.
Ballistics comparisons confirmed that this was the same gun Giles used on June 25, according to Bramlett.
Giles was arrested and eventually pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Malissa Woods.
“Broderick Giles did not show one ounce of concern for Mrs. Wood’s life, and he deserves to spend the next twenty years in prison without the possibility of parole,” Bramlett said.