Man indicted for shooting deputy
The man accused of shooting two Madison County deputies last year faces six counts attempted murder of law enforcement officers.
Edward James Egbert, 41, of Canton was indicted by a Madison County grand jury Tuesday and charged with the six counts along with one count of kidnapping and one count of felony fleeing.
The charges stem from a Sept. 5 incident that begin in northwestern Madison County and ended in Canton.
Egbert is accused of abducting a man and tying him up inside his home. An ensuing chase led to two officers being wounded by gunshot fire serious injuring Deputy Brad Sulllivan.
Sullivan was wounded around 7:15 a.m., after Egbert crashed his vehicle into a ditch chase that ended near the Canton Country Club on Mississippi 16 east. He then exited the vehicle and started shooting.
Other law enforcement officers involved in the pursuit returned fire, hitting the suspect before taking him into custody.
Sullivan was airlifted to UMMC. Another deputy was treated and released.
The investigation was turned over to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation by Madison County District Attorney John Bramlett.
Bramlett said on Wednesday that the case was originally scheduled to be presented to a grand jury in the spring but then COVID-19 hit and everything started to be delayed.
Bramlett said he should know later this week when a trial date is set, but he said everything has been impacted by COVID-19 now and it could be later this fall or early-2021 before Egbert stands trial.
Egbert remains in custody in Rankin County where he was moved following his initial arrest. He was transported to Madison County on Tuesday for his arraignment and was appointed an attorney.
Sullivan is still recovering. On the Facebook page Praying for Deputy Brad Sullivan, he posted on July 15:
“I had surgery again on right eye yesterday. They took the oil out and replaced it with synthetic eye fluid. I had a follow up this morning and found when the patch was taken off I had no vision at all. The doctor said that this was normal due to an air bubble from surgery. He stated that the bubble would slowly go away in a few weeks and I would know more about my vision. He also advised that everything else looked great from all the other surgeries and this could possibly be the last eye surgery that I would need.
Please continue to send up prayers as I will always need them. The Lord is still working miracles on me and I’m still improving daily.
I would also like to thank everyone that has continued checking on me and praying for me since day one.”