An Anderson man, Ross Morelock, was found guilty of attempted murder after a shootout with Pendleton Police Officer Jerry Branson at a gas station in Madison County. The incident occurred during a traffic stop when Branson approached a sedan matching the description of a vehicle involved in a previous crash. Morelock, a passenger in the car, ignored commands to keep his hands visible and pointed a gun at Branson, leading to a 10-second shootout. Branson sustained a minor injury, while Morelock shot himself in the head after the confrontation. Morelock pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon, and faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison. Branson was cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting. The entire incident was captured on a bodycam provided by the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office. The sentencing for Morelock is scheduled for April 15, and it is anticipated that additional time will be added to his sentence due to plea agreements regarding habitual offender and felony firearm enhancements.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
