Anthony Kent receives maximum sentence in shooting of Statesboro police officer

by WTOC Staff, Olivia Wright

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - A case that Statesboro residents have been following for over a year finally came to a head Friday at the Bulloch County courthouse at Anthony Kent’s sentencing.

READ: Statesboro police officer involved in shooting speaks out for the first time

The court room was wall-to-wall with residents and Statesboro Police officers who came to support officer Joey DeLoach during Anthony Kent’s sentencing.

Leading up to this sentencing, Kent pleaded guilty to all charges in the shooting of Officer DeLoach.

Statesboro Police say Kent was a car break-in suspect.

And he shot Officer Deloach three times when ordered out of a car in 2024.

“I returned fire,” said DeLoach. “After I returned fire I felt a burning sensation in my leg I have never felt before.”

Friday, prosecutors showed never before seen graphic bodycam video after calling officer DeLoach to the stand.

The defense brought Kent’s mother to the stand as well as a Georgia Southern Professor who shared Kent needed rehabilitation programs compared to prison time.

" Your honor I’m asking as a citizen, as a taxpayer, as a member of this community, and a youth advocate for as much grace and mercy that the law allows for a minimum sentencing for this offense," said Kristina Patterson, GSU professor.

However, after closing arguments, the judge sentenced Anthony Kent to 35 years.

30 of those years will be spent in prison and the other 5 on probation.

“The judge really weighed the argument and really did some deep thinking about what he though was appropriate,” said Mike Broadhead, Statesboro Police Chief. “I was happy to see a longer sentence put down than what was recommended by the defense.”

Broadhead says this past year has been trying for the whole department due to this case.

“We send police officers out on behalf of the community,” said Broadhead. “When someone assaults or attacks a police officer, it really is anattack on the entire community.”

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