GA man pleads guilty to gun charge after shooting SC trooper in the face
A Georgia man pleaded guilty to a gun charge after shooting a South Carolina trooper in the face, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for S.C.
Derrick Gathers, 40, of Augusta, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop in 2023, where he shot Trooper B.A. Frazier of the South Carolina Highway Patrol in the face, according to a news release.
Frazier had stopped Gathers on Aug. 16, 2023 for speeding on Highway 78 in Bamberg County. After handing Frazier his driver’s license and vehicle registration, Gathers shot Frazier as the trooper reapproached Gathers’ vehicle following a records check, the release said.
Despite his injury, Frazier and a deputy with the Bamberg County Sheriff’s Department — assisting on the stop — returned fire toward Gathers’ vehicle as he sped away, according to the release.
While continuing to flee, Gathers’ vehicle was located by members of the Bamberg Police Department, highway patrol, and Bamberg County Sheriff’s Department. During the pursuit, Gathers lost control of the car and crashed in Branchville, where he was taken into custody, the release said.
A search warrant conducted by the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Department uncovered a loaded handgun under the brake pedal inside Gathers’ vehicle, according to the release.
As a convicted felon, Gathers was prohibited from being in possession of a firearm or ammunition. He now faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, restitution and a term of supervised release following a prison term, the release said.
Meanwhile, Frazier has fully recovered from the injuries he sustained during the shooting, according to the release.
