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by WILL FOLKS
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A federal judge has ordered a defendant in a triple homicide case in Richland County, South Carolina to be detained pending the resolution of a separate federal gun charge.
The ruling from U.S. magistrate judge Paige Gossett on Friday (September 25, 2026) is a sharp departure from the consistent leniency this defendant has been shown at the state level – and offers a compelling reminder of the extent to which accountability for violent criminals in certain parts of the Palmetto State remains elusive.
According to Gossett’s order (.pdf), federal prosecutors proved by “clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community” as it relates to 20-year-old Karlos Damon Gibson.
Gibson was charged in 2023 with three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection with the fatal shooting of three Eau Claire High School students.
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Fast-forward to August 5, 2026, when deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) conducted a 7:00 a.m. EDT search on Gibson’s residence on Van Heise Street in East Columbia, S.C.
During their search, deputies found two loaded, fully automatic Glock handguns located in the bedroom of a ten-month-old baby residing at the address. One of the two guns was located inside the child’s crib.
According to RCSD, both firearms belonged to Gibson – and had been “modified in a manner consistent with Glock switch installation.” Additionally, “a switch was found with Gibson’s belongings.”
Despite being out on bond in connection with the 2023 triple homicide – and despite a firearm prohibition being one of the conditions of that bond – Gibson was inexplicably granted a $2,500 surety bond on the gun charge and a $1,000 personal recognizance bond on the unlawful conduct charge.
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Fortunately for Richland County residents, the office of U.S. attorney Bryan Stirling stepped in and charged Gibson federally – while simultaneously seeking his detention prior to trial. Even more fortunately, Gossett agreed to detain him – making it crystal clear in her order that one of the reasons was “the defendant hid a loaded gun in a baby’s crib.”
Gossett also noted evidence that Gibson “violated a state court order not to possess firearms while on bond, indicating (he) does not comply with bond conditions.”
South Carolina needs more state judges willing to hold the line like that… and more prosecutors willing to provide them with opportunities to do so.
While it’s encouraging to see federal authorities stand in the gap when the state fails (something they’ve been doing with increasing frequency under Stirling’s leadership), it’s disappointing they had to waste time and resources on this defendant – who never should have been allowed in a position to place others in danger.
How many more lives will be lost – or placed in jeopardy – thanks to the Palmetto State’s deadly catch and release approach to “justice?”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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