A federal grand jury in Columbia has indicted James Robert Peterson, 37, from Prosperity, South Carolina, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment stems from an incident on June 11, during which Peterson allegedly shot and killed a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) K9 named Coba while law enforcement was attempting to arrest him.
Peterson faces state charges related to the incident and is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction. If convicted on the federal charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison. He is currently detained awaiting trial.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program's strategy includes fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and measuring outcomes.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs emphasized that "all charges in the indictment are merely accusations" and reminded that "defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."