Accused Police Shooter Back in Court Wednesday

Franklin County’s Magistrate Judge rules there is enough evidence against the man accused of shooting two Lavonia police officers to go to trial.

22-year old Khari Anthony Dashaun Gordon of Greenville was back in court Wednesday in Franklin County.

Gordon is charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault on a police officer, two counts of felony criminal attempt to commit murder and one count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony.

At the preliminary hearing Wednesday, Franklin County Magistrate Judge Cody Grizzle also added an additional probable cause charge of felony theft by bringing stolen property into the State at the request of Northern Judicial District Attorney Parks White.

During the hearing, White called GBI special agent Katy Hartzog to the stand.

Hartzog gave detailed testimony of the events that led up to the shooting of Lavonia police officer Jeffrey Martin and Lavonia Police Captain Michael Schulman on the night of December 8th.

She told the court Officer Martin pulled Gordon over I the parking lot of Zaxby’s in Lavonia because the drive out tag on his 2002 Nissan was written in Sharpie.

A check of the car’s VIN number she said found it had been stolen out of Spartanburg several days earlier.

When Captain Schulman asked Gordon to remove the items from his pockets, Gordon took a gun out of his left pocket and shot Schulman and Martin and then fled.

Hartzog noted the shooting of the two officers was captured on police video.

She also testified the shell casings found at the scene matched the 40 caliber gun Gordon had in his possession at the time of his arrest later that night.

Gordon’s relatives attended the preliminary hearing and tried to speak with him but were prevented by Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas.

Thomas said afterward the hearing was not a time for visitation.

“They (Gordon’s relatives) came here and they wanted to see him and I said, ‘no,'” Thomas said. I told them, ‘This is court appearance and not visitation.’ Then they said ‘that’s not right.’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry but for no reason he shot two officers and I don’t take too kindly to that.'”

Gordon is being housed in the Gwinnett County Jail in metro Atlanta for Franklin County.

Thomas said after more discussion with the family, he gave them information on how to contact Gwinnett authorities.

“I did tell them to give me a number and I will get them information to where he’s housed at in Gwinnett County, and they can make arrangments for a visitation, but not now,” Thomas said.

Gordon’s case is expected to be heard next week by the Franklin County Grand Jury.

No trial date has been set and he remains in custody without bond.