Sheriff: Local man charged with attempted murder in fentanyl case

A 20-year-old local resident is in the Hood County Jail facing an attempted murder charge after he “provided” a fentanyl pill to a friend, resulting in an overdose, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release from Lt. Joshua Lane.

Brandon Austin Edwards, whose residence is listed on James Road in the Acton area, was arrested by deputies late Wednesday night (Sept. 28) and booked into jail just after midnight on Thursday. Edwards is charged with two second-degree felony crimes — attempted murder ($50,000 bond), and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1, 1-4 grams ($50,000 bond). He is also charged with a state jail felony charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1-B, less than 1 gram ($10,000 bond).

An email from Lane to the Hood County News stated that deputies responded to a report of an overdose in “about the 9400 block” of U.S. Highway 377 East, in Cresson shortly before 8 p.m. on Sept. 28.

“Upon arriving at the scene, deputies found Texas EMS was transporting the overdose victim to Lake Granbury Medical Center,” Lane’s news release states. “During their investigation, deputies spoke with Brandon Austin Edwards, who informed them that his 18-year-old friend had overdosed on fentanyl that Mr. Edwards had provided to him after Mr. Edwards purchased the fentanyl in the Metroplex.

“As the investigation continued, Mr. Edwards admitted to being in possession of several fentanyl pressed pills. Deputies later checked on the overdose victim and learned he was still alive and being treated by medical staff at Lake Granbury Medical Center.”

At the time Lane’s news release was emailed on Friday afternoon, Edwards was still in custody.