The man charged with shooting a revolver at his mother’s north Odessa home five times this week is being treated at Medical Center Hospital for an undisclosed ailment.
The suspect, 38-year-old Michael Jack Edwards, had been interviewed by Odessa Police Department detectives following his suspected connection to the shooting that occurred Wednesday in the 1800 block of Cody Place. His mother reportedly confronted him about slashing the tires to three vehicles she owned when the shots were fired.
Edwards at some point required medical attention that led authorities to send him to MCH where he is listed in good condition. OPD spokesman Cpl. Steve LeSueur could not reveal what was ailing Edwards citing privacy laws.
Although he has not been booked at the Ector County Detention Center, Edwards is still in custody and has an OPD officer assigned outside the room where he is recovering, LeSueur said.
Once Edwards is discharged from the hospital he will then be processed at the county jail. Police believe that Edwards does not live with his mother at the Cody Place home, LeSueur said.
Edwards was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, and was also arrested on a charge of criminal mischief, a state jail felony. OPD authorities initially reported that Edwards was arrested on a charge of first-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Dispatchers received a shots fired call at 12:44 p.m. Wednesday and sent officers to 1828 Cody Place. Officers learned Edwards reportedly went to the home of his mother, identified as 59-year-old Belinda Haynie Edwards, where he is accused of slashing all four tires to a black Ford Bronco, a white Ford Explorer and two tires to a black Cargo Trailer, a probable cause document for Edwards’ arrest showed.
All the vehicles belonged to Belinda Edwards, the OPD said, and the damages were estimated at $3,350. Belinda Edwards confronted her son who reportedly walked away from her home, turned to face her and pulled out a revolver and opened fire several time in her direction, the probable cause read.
“Belinda ran away from Michael, who followed Belinda and continued shooting in her direction,” the record read. None of the gunshots struck Belinda Edwards as she escaped injury.
One of the gunshots struck one of the doors to Belinda Edwards’ Cargo trailer causing about $100 in damage. Three gunshots struck the home causing about $1,000 damage. The OPD estimates that the total damages amount to $4,450.
Police said Michael Edwards fled the scene. An officer spotted Michael Edwards in his yellow 2013 Ford Mustang GT at the intersection of East 52nd Street and North Dixie Boulevard. Edwards was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson revolver, a Sig Sauer 1911 semiautomatic handgun, a double-sided knife and a hammer, the probable cause record reported.
“The Smith &Wesson revolver was found to have five spent casings in its cylinder indicating it had been fired, the document read.
