Lexington Co. names suspect in February fatal bar shooting

An arrest warrant was issued for Gregory Lamont Brooks, 20, of Columbia for murder in the early morning shooting death February 2 of 31-year-old Brandon E. Ratliff at a St. Andrews bar.

According to the warrant , Ratliff was trying to mediate a dispute shortly before 6 a.m. between Brooks and several other people in the parking lot of the Cockpit Bar and Grill at 214 Berryhill Road when he was shot once in the chest . He was driven to Lexington Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Lexington County authorities continue to investigate the shooting and have not said what the argument which precipitated it was about.

Since the February 2 shooting, Brooks allegedly has shaved his head in an effort to change his appearance, Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said. He faces charges of murder, unlawful possession of a handgun by a person who was convicted of a violent felony and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Anyone with information on Brooks’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

-- Rachael Myers Lowe