WILMINGTON — The suspect in a New Year’s Day shooting entered a guilty plea Monday.
Brandon Breezley, 23, pled guilty to attempted murder to Clinton County Common Pleas Judge John “Tim” Rudduck.
Breezley, currently incarcerated in the Clinton County Jail, now faces three to 11 years in prison and a possible $20,000 fine for the felony 1 offense.
The plea also dismissed the felony 2 felonious assault charge.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19 with a pre-sentencing investigation ordered by the court.
The charges stemmed from an incident where Brandon shot his father, David, in their Midland residence.
Upon arriving on the scene, Clinton County Sheriff’s deputies found the victim lying on the kitchen floor “covered in blood,” according to the arrest affidavit
When Breezley was placed into custody, he reportedly said, “I just killed my dad, he is dead, I shot him in the head.”
According to the affidavit, the incident started when Brandon and David were arguing, which led to a physical altercation. After a while, Brandon told law enforcement officials he entered his parents’ bedroom and removed a .22-caliber handgun from a safe.
When the suspect heard his father walking toward the closed bedroom door so he held the door closed with his left hand. When David tried to enter the bedroom Brandon fired a single shot through the door.
Brandon Breezley allegedly said he heard his father yell and fall to the floor.
The affidavit stated: “Mr. (Brandon) Breezley opened the bedroom door, observed his father lying on the floor, and when his father rose to a seated position he shot at him again and saw his father immediately fall backward.”
The affidavit also reports the suspect said he did not give first aid to his father, or seek assistance.
