A South Carolina man was indicted by a federal grand jury this week in connection with the shooting of S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) K9 agent earlier this year.
The shooting of K9 Coba took place on June 11, 2024 as authorities attempted to arrest 37-year-old James Robert Peterson aka "Peezy" of Prosperity, S.C.
Newberry County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) deputies and SLED agents were attempting to serve a felony warrant on Peterson at the time of the shooting.
"The suspect was found hiding inside the home of a family member and emerged," NCSO deputies noted at the time. "A law enforcement K9 confronted the suspect inside the house, along with a deputy and SLED Agents."
Peterson opened fire on officers, killing K9 Coba - a four-year-old Belgian Malinois mix.
This week, Peterson was indicted on a federal weapons charge related to the shooting.
Nine state charges are currently pending in Newberry County related to the same arrest. They include charges for burglary, breaking the peace, animal cruelty, resisting arrest and multiple weapons charges. Additionally, Peterson was charged with financial transaction card theft in September 2024.
Court records show Peterson has a criminal record dating back many years. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and one charge for housebreaking. At that time, Peterson received a suspended sentence of ten years. He served four years of probation with a requirement to complete a sober living program. As recently as October 2023, Peterson was charged with housebreaking, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 72 days in jail for those offenses.
Peterson has been in custody since his arrest on June 21, 2024. He was recently transferred to the Spartanburg Detention Center on December 12, 2024 where he is considered a federal prisoner.
Peterson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison following this week's indictment.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lexington County Sheriff's Department (LCSD). Assistant U.S. attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.
As with anyone accused of committing any crime, Peterson is considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system - or until such time as he may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges filed against him.
Callie Lyons is a journalist, researcher and author. Her 2007 book 'Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal' was the first to cover forever chemicals and their impact on communities - a story later told in the movie 'Dark Waters.' Her investigative work has been featured in media outlets, publications, and documentaries all over the world. Lyons also appears in 'Citizen Sleuth' - a 2023 documentary exploring the genre of true crime.