The Vidalia man accused of shooting Statesboro Advanced Patrol Officer Joey Deloach in April 2024 rejected a plea offer and the case will now proceed to trial.

According to a release from District Attorney Robert Busbee of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, Anthony Kent, 20, declined the plea arrangement during a hearing Friday in Bulloch Superior Court. Kent is now scheduled to have a court calendar call on June 26.

No details of the plea offered Kent were released.

Kent was indicted last May by a Bulloch County Grand Jury for four offenses all related to the April 16, 2024 incident. He is charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, two counts of entering an automobile, theft by receiving stolen property/felony and obstruction of an officer/felony. Kent has remained in the Bulloch County Jail since his arraignment last May.

During the shooting, Deloach suffered a life-threatening wound to his left leg that struck the femoral artery and had to be flown to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah for treatment.

After multiple surgeries, Deloach was released nine days after the incident to continue his recovery and rehabilitation at home in Statesboro. He returned to full active duty last September.

Shooting at Copper Beech Townhomes

At 10 p.m. the night of April 16, 2024, Statesboro Police received a call that an unknown person was in the parking lot of Copper Beach Townhomes on Statesboro Place Circle checking cars.

Statesboro Police Chief Mike Broadhead said eight officers initially responded to the scene. He said they set up a perimeter and started walking in to cover the whole lot.

Shortly afterward, Deloach came upon a man in a vehicle.

“He ordered him to come out and show his hands,” Broadhead said. “That's when the guy's upper body came out of the car. The gun was in his hand. He turned right at the officer and started shooting.”

Deloach returned fire and the suspect fled.

Fellow Officer Nicolas Sparks-Hoskins, who was part of the call to the complex, rendered aid to Deloach immediately, applying a tourniquet to stem the bleeding. He was rushed to East Georgia Regional Medical Center and then flown to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah.

The suspect, later identified as Kent, fled on foot into a wooded area before emerging near Brampton Avenue, where he was taken into custody by SPD officers and Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies.