Gordon “Rudy” Connell, a 28-year-old man from Summerville, South Carolina, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection to a 2023 shootout. He has an extensive criminal record including illegal firearms possession, theft, and violent assaults. After his arrest for stealing a motorcycle and subsequent events leading to a shootout involving Timothy Lattimer, Connell was arrested and sentenced. A federal judge also ordered that Connell serve three years of court-ordered supervision after his release from prison.
Connell has been arrested 53 times since turning 18 and has 24 felony convictions. The incident involved the theft of a motorcycle from Lattimer, a confrontation escalating to a shootout where another person was seriously injured by gunfire. Lattimer has also been convicted and is currently incarcerated. Authorities highlighted Connell as a habitual offender posing a significant threat to community safety, and the ATF collaborates with local law enforcement to reduce crime by removing such offenders.
The shootout and ensuing legal consequences underscore the focus on taking repeat offenders off the streets to enhance public safety. The U.S. District Judge David C. Norton emphasized that after the 10-year prison term, Connell will undergo three years of supervised release in the community. This case reflects ongoing efforts to address firearm violence and habitual criminal activity in Dorchester County.
