On the day I was sentenced to 20-29 years, I was asked if I had anything to say by the Honorable Judge Robert Sumner presiding in Gaston County Superior court, May 28, 2013. 

My verbatim reply : "I just want to apologize to my victims, first off. This really wasn't intended to be like it was, but there's no excuses for what happened, you know. But I'm just thankful that no one did get hurt. I mean, not even a little bit in the situation, but I understand the legal terms and everything and so you can call it attempted murder or whatever, but I just, I'm thankful that nobody did get hurt. That's all I got to say.

His response: " Okay. I think everybody in this courtroom shares that sentiment with you and hopefully you'll use this substantial amount of time to improve who you are. It can be done if you want to do it, all right?"

NOTICE: TO THOSE MY CRIMES HAVE AFFECTED

I want to make clear that my intent is never to take away from, undermine or diminish the realities of my actions and the impact they had on those in the community— neither in regards to what did, or what could have happened. My reckless actions in 2012 put many lives in harms way. Just because no one was hurt on the night of my arrest does not take away from the fact that someone could have been, but only for the grace and mercy of Almighty God.

Most of the people that my family and myself have spoken to over the years would agree that the charges I pled to as an eighteen-year-old (who had never been to prison before or charged of anything) did not fit the crime. The length of the sentence appeared to be excessive when considering how a person could have been to prison six times and murdered someone and yet only end up with a ten year sentence, versus my 20-29 year sentence. When the incident occurred it was dark out, I was not aiming at humans nor with that intent, bullets ricochet off the hood of the cop car.

Nonetheless, what I did was wrong. I would have preferred not have been armed, or feel the need to be carrying an armed weapon. Do people have guns in heaven- no. As a 30 year old man, I am not only ashamed of my actions as a teenager, I am also deeply remorseful. As I stated in the courtroom the day I was sentenced, I am just grateful no one was harmed. 

To all those that I frightened by my reckless actions: I express my sincerest apology. No one should have had to go through what I put you through. No one should EVER have to feel that their very life is in jeopardy.

Since that day I have been in similar positions and felt that way several times. I know PTSI (Post Traumatic Stress Injury) to be a real injury. A debilitating, disabling occurrence or injury that occurs to you or from an experience lived or witnessed. For me, the mere smell of floor stripper can trigger a fight-or-flight response. The body truly does keep the score, as mentioned in 

My heart goes out to you. To those officers and bystanders that were present during that police chase, if you can read this: I am sorry. 

Believe it or not, before that chase I was enrolled as a sixteen year old student with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, majoring in Criminal Justice while at Stonewall Jackson Training School. I studied criminal law, latent evidence and corrections in America with the hopes of possibly becoming an officer/detective myself. My family and I have always had the utmost respect and admiration towards all civil servants, officers of the law, and military service members at home and abroad. I have nephews in each branch of the military as I write this. 

Nothing in me is proud of what happened that night. I honestly acted in duress. There was no intent to harm anyone. At that point, I had lived in more homes than my age. Unspeakable things happened in more than a few. All I could think of is that it must be much worse to be locked up with adults, in prison. As I had been told I was in serious trouble for beating up a man (Ian Poe,) who had been threatening the life of his pregnant ex-girlfriend (Samantha Kern), who he used to abuse.

It was our hope that our reckless actions would merely dissuade our pursuers from continuing the chase, and instead call it off. Too many video games, maybe. Truth is, the media made it out to be worse than what it was. Although shots were fired from a gun, at no point were they aimed at people. Seeing as it was dark, we thought the sight of muzzle flash might make a difference. We were driving a van that went 70 miles per hour. Outrunning someone wasn't an option. At least that was the little amount of thought that was put into the situation at the time. Little did we know how far the consequences would reach from those poor decisions. 

I hope you can feel the sincerity in my words. I know that I can never take back what happened that night. But, with God, I am trying my best to make a positive impact in the lives of others out of those mistakes, out of this pain. That people may be encouraged—yes. But also, that others might never make the same mistakes and cause the same mayhem I caused.

I pray this gives someone some sense of closure. And that all of your lives are blessed and filled to overflowing with God's favor, His peace, and His provision. 

Brandon Jeffery Bridges

05 | 28 | 2024 

In the meantime, thank you for your time on my site and here's to Honorable Judge Sumner (whom I can now genuinely thank)- some of the achievements I've earned include, the below: