A former Starkville Police Department officer has been indicted for aggravated assault after a June 2017 officer-involved shooting.
An Oktibbeha County grand jury indicted Gary Wheeler, 25, in June. Wheeler was served with the indictment Monday morning and processed at the Oktibbeha County Jail. He’s out of jail on $20,000 bond, according to jail personnel.
Wheeler, according to circuit court documents, was indicted for shooting Zyterrious Gandy with a pistol on June 3, 2017. The indictment says Wheeler showed “extreme indifference to the value of human life,” and caused “serious” bodily harm to Gandy.
The shooting happened during an early morning pursuit after Gandy allegedly robbed the Sprint Mart at the intersection of Highway 12 and South Montgomery Street in Starkville. Officers responded to the store at about 4:30 a.m. and began pursuing a vehicle, driven by Gandy, down South Montgomery Street to South Wedgewood Road.
Mississippi Bureau of Investigations spokesman Warren Strain previously told the Dispatch that officers attempted a traffic stop at South Wedgewood, where Gandy reportedly backed into a SPD patrol vehicle. At that point, Wheeler fired at the vehicle. Gandy reportedly attempted to drive away from the scene but hit a residence’s porch.
According to Strain, a second round of fire may have followed after Gandy hit the porch.
Gandy abandoned his vehicle after circling behind the home and attempted to flee on foot. He was captured shortly after.
According to court documents, Wheeler fired into Gandy’s vehicle while he was driving. The documents say Gandy was shot in both legs and his torso.
Gandy was charged in August 2017 with three counts of aggravated assault and a count of failing to stop a motor vehicle when signaled by an officer.
Wheeler no longer works for the Starkville Police Department. According to the Dispatch’s previous reporting on the case, Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols place a then-unidentified police officer on administrative leave after the incident.
Nichols declined to comment on Wheeler’s indictment Monday morning. However, in a statement issued in the afternoon, Nichols said his agency “held the perimeter of the scene” when the incident happened and immediately turned the investigation over to MBI.
“The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Attorney General’s Office solely conducted the criminal investigation of this incident,” Nichols said. “As per standing operating procedure of the Starkville Police Department, the officer was placed on paid administrative leave. After returning to duty for a short period of time, the officer resigned for other employment.”
Wheeler stopped working with SPD on April 13, according to City Human Resources Director Navarette Ashford.
On Monday, Mississippi State University Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter confirmed Wheeler, who had worked with the university’s police department after leaving SPD, resigned from his position.
“In April 2018, Gary Wheeler was employed as an officer in the MSU Police Department,” Salter said in an issued statement. “As of today (Monday), Mr. Wheeler has resigned his position at MSU and he is no longer employed with the university. Out of respect to the ongoing legal process, MSU will have no additional comment on this matter.”
The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case. Communications Director Margarett Ann Morgan said Assistant Attorney General Stan Alexander, with the Public Integrity Division, is handling the case. Wheeler is currently scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 15. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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