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AUGUSTA, Ga. () – The United States Department of Justice has announced that Derrick Gathers, a 40-year-old resident of Augusta, Georgia, has admitted to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. This admission comes amidst serious allegations stemming from a violent encounter earlier this year.
On April 16, 2023, Gathers was pulled over by South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper B.A. Frazier on Highway 78 in Bamberg County for allegedly exceeding the speed limit. The routine traffic stop took a dangerous turn when Gathers allegedly shot Trooper Frazier in the face and attempted to escape the scene. A pursuit ensued, ending in a crash that led to Gathers’ arrest.
The gravity of this incident was underscored when a federal grand jury in Columbia, S.C., indicted Gathers on February 4, 2025, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gathers, who has a criminal history with felony convictions from New York, now faces severe penalties. He could be sentenced to up to 15 years in federal prison, fined up to $250,000, and ordered to pay restitution, in addition to a supervised release following his imprisonment.
In a related note, the incident involving Trooper Frazier has garnered significant attention. For more details, you can view the video coverage of the trooper’s recovery and return home following the shooting.
Trooper Frazier has since recovered from his injuries.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bamberg Police Department.