‘Inexcusable’: Georgia man to spend nearly 45 years in prison after shooting SC trooper in the face

A judge tacked nearly seven more years onto the 38-year sentence Derrick Gathers is already serving in state prison.

By: Skylar Laird

Outlets: South Carolina Daily Gazette

Published: August 13, 2026

Words: 1,076

Last Updated: 4 days, 7 hours ago

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COLUMBIA — A man convicted of shooting a South Carolina trooper in the face during a traffic stop will spend a total of 45 years in prison, a federal judge decided Thursday.

Derrick Gathers, 40, is already serving a 38-year sentence after a jury convicted him last year of attempted murder, possessing a weapon during a violent crime and failing to stop for police.

U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced him to 15 more …

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