Waycross, Georgia — A tragic shooting in this small Georgia city has left a family shattered after a man was accused of fatally shooting his childhood friend inside a car, allegedly following an inappropriate interaction with the victim’s wife.
Police say the incident unfolded Friday night, quickly escalating from what began as a ride between acquaintances into a deadly confrontation that has stunned the local community.
Deadly shooting reported after 911 call
According to the Waycross Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call around 8:22 p.m. near the intersection of Snelson Street and Old Brunel Street, where they discovered a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim, identified as 35-year-old Jacob Garrett Cothern, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Officers located a male with multiple gunshot wounds who was deceased at the scene,” authorities confirmed.
The shocking nature of the incident has raised concerns across the area, particularly given the relationship between the victim and the suspect.
Suspect arrested while attempting to flee
Shortly after the shooting, officers encountered 29-year-old Brandon Dale Frick, who was allegedly armed and trying to leave the area. Police quickly took him into custody.
Frick now faces multiple charges, including:
- Malice murder
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime
- Unauthorized discharge of a firearm near a public highway
“The suspect was apprehended shortly after the incident and taken into custody without further incident,” police stated.
He remains in jail as he awaits his next court appearance.
Wife describes horrifying moments before shooting
In a deeply emotional account, the victim’s wife, Buffy Cothern, shared details of what she says led up to the shooting.
She explained that she and her husband had been giving Frick a ride when the situation suddenly took a disturbing turn.
“He touched my arm inappropriately while we were driving,” she alleged.
According to her statement, she immediately pulled over the car, and her husband told Frick to get out, refusing to continue the ride after what he saw as disrespect toward his wife.
What happened next, she says, unfolded in seconds.
“He pulled a gun and shot Jacob,” she recalled.
‘No remorse whatsoever,’ wife says
Buffy Cothern described a horrifying sequence of events after the initial gunshot, saying her husband fell to the ground as the suspect continued to act aggressively.
“He was telling him, ‘Get up and take me home,’” she said.
She added that her husband pleaded with the suspect to stop.
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“No, Brandon, please stop. We don’t have to do it like this,” she recalled him saying.
According to her account, when it became clear her husband could not get up, the suspect allegedly fired again.
“He shot him again and then just walked away like nothing happened — no remorse whatsoever.”
Community shaken by violent incident
The case has left residents in Waycross deeply shaken, particularly due to the alleged connection between the suspect and victim.
Officials have not yet released further details about the investigation, and it remains unclear whether the suspect has obtained legal representation.
As the legal process moves forward, the community continues to grapple with the sudden loss and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Authorities say the case remains under active investigation, and additional details may emerge in the coming days.
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