Summerville, SC – A Summerville man with a long history of felony convictions has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after prosecutors say he illegally possessed a firearm during a September 2023 shootout. Officials say the case highlights the risks posed by repeat violent offenders in Dorchester County and across South Carolina.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, 28-year-old Gordon “Rudy” Connell was prohibited from owning firearms due to numerous prior convictions, including theft, violent assaults, and earlier weapons violations. Prosecutors said Connell was on probation at the time of the 2023 incident.
The investigation began on Sept. 9, 2023, when deputies responded to a Summerville shooting involving Connell and another man, Timothy Lattimer, who was attempting to recover a stolen motorcycle. Surveillance video released by the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office shows Lattimer approaching Connell’s yard, where both men allegedly exchanged gunfire. Detectives later found shell casings, a firearm, and damage consistent with the shootout. Lattimer was transported to a hospital and survived.
Connell fled before deputies arrived but was arrested on Sept. 18, 2023, after deputies stopped his vehicle on Bacons Bridge Road. A search of the car uncovered a handgun hidden inside a backpack, along with signs the weapon had been recently fired.
Federal officials emphasized that the sentence underscores an ongoing effort to curb violent repeat offenders. “Career criminals, like Connell, propel violence into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Stirling. Sheriff Sam Richardson called Connell “a dangerous, relentless offender” whose record “speaks for itself.”
Connell will also serve three years of federal supervised release after completing his prison term.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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