Officer shooting case heads to Harrison Co. grand jury

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A Harrison County grand jury will decide whether to indict Corey Johnson, who is accused in the attempted murder of Gulfport police officer Dolton Bradley.

Harrison County Justice Court Brandon Ladner sent the case to the grand jury after a hearing Wednesday.

Authorities say the police officer was shot twice in the stomach during a November struggle with Johnson.

Detective Gary Ponthieux told the court Johnson fled a vehicle he was riding in after a traffic stop, which led to a chase and struggle between the two.

Ponthieux testified after being shot Bradley was able to knock the gun out of Johnson's hands and hold him down. Two other officers helped subdue Johnson.

Johnson's attorney Michael Crosby argued investigators could not prove Johnson intended to kill the officer, and so the charge should be aggravated assault instead of attempted murder.

"You have to want to kill in order to be charged with murder," Crosby said. "I do not think he meant to kill the officer."

Prosecutor Herman Cox told the judge the only reason a murder charge is debatable is because Bradley survived.

"Corey Johnson shot a police officer twice," Cox said. "If Bradley wasn't lucky enough to survive, we would be looking at a capital murder case."