Cook Out shooting was shootout between gangs
By: WYFF Staff
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A Spartanburg teen went before a judge Friday on charges in connection with a shooting last week at a Cook Out restaurant.
One more teen is being sought on suspicion of being involved in the shooting that injured six people, according to Maj. Art Littlejohn, with Spartanburg Public Safety. Fredrick Lee Smith Jackson, 18, is charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a weapon under age and five counts of assault/attempted murder.
His bond was not set during the hearing. The case was, instead, sent to circuit court.
Jackson’s father, Frederick Jackson, is shocked by the allegations.
“Didn’t raise him like that, he wasn’t brought up around that type of environment, it’s kind of shocking,” said Jackson’s father.
The solicitor’s office said during the hearing that they believe the incident was a shootout between gangs and that Jackson is a gang member. That came as another to Jackson’s father.
“Not in no gang situation, he might hang around guys that’s maybe in that, when my kids leave the house sometime we don’t know who they hanging out with and where they going but,” Jackson’s father said. “we do know he’s not gang affiliated.”
The shooting happened Oct. 12 about 11:30 p.m. at the Cook Out restaurant on John B. White Sr. Boulevard.
Police said the shooting happened in the parking lot after a fight.
Two males and one female victim were taken to the hospital by emergency medical services personnel, officers said.
Officers said three additional victims were taken to the hospital by a personally owned vehicle.
The victims range from 16 to 24 years of age, officers said.
A majority of the victims were innocent bystanders, and some are students from either Dorman High School or Spartanburg High School, police said.
Jackson’s father says it’s important to presume that his son is innocent and that his family has the victims of the shooting in mind.
“Our sincere and deepest sympathy to the family and the victims and we hope everybody gets better and we praying for the family and the victims,” said Jackson’s father.
Police said two other suspects have been named in connection with the shooting.
Littlejohn said warrants have been signed for Trevor Lamont Gist, 18, for possession of a stolen weapon and accessory after the fact to commit murder.
Warrants were also signed for Jarcoby Tramon Geter, 16, for possession of a weapon under age, possession of a stolen weapon, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and assault/attempted murder, according to Littlejohn.
Geter turned himself into himself in at Spartanburg County Warrant Office around 5:30 p.m. Friday.
“We are extremely thankful that this incident did not result in the loss of life,” Spartanburg police Chief Alonzo Thompson said. “We must continue to remember the victims of this incident and their families. We also recognize that without the cooperation of the Spartanburg community, we could not have identified the responsible parties. We are appreciative of the many officers from our department as well as those from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office that worked tirelessly in their response and investigation of this unnecessary and tragic incident.”
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