A 29-year-old Waycross man remains in custody following a Friday night shooting that claimed the life of his childhood friend. Authorities allege the suspect, Brandon Dale Frick, opened fire on the victim following a dispute inside a vehicle.
The Incident and Arrest
The Waycross Police Department (WPD) responded to reports of gunfire near the intersection of Snelson and Old Brunel streets at approximately 8:22 p.m. on Friday, March 13. Upon arrival, officers discovered 35-year-old Jacob Garrett Cothern suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders pronounced Cothern dead at the scene.
Shortly after the discovery, officers encountered Frick nearby. According to a WPD news release, Frick was armed and attempting to flee the area when police intercepted him. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct
The victim’s wife, Buffy Cothern, witnessed the shooting and provided a harrowing account of the events leading up to her husband’s death. In an interview with local media, she stated the couple was providing Frick with a ride when the situation escalated.
Mrs. Cothern alleges that Frick—a longtime friend of her husband—touched her arm inappropriately while they were driving. She subsequently pulled the vehicle over near the Way of Holiness Church, where Jacob Cothern ordered Frick to exit the car, citing a lack of respect for his wife.
“Brandon pulled a gun and shot Jacob,” Buffy Cothern told First Coast News. She further alleged that after her husband fell to the ground, Frick stood over him and demanded he get up to finish the ride home. Despite the victim’s pleas for his life, Frick allegedly fired again before calmly walking away from the scene.
Legal Charges and Status
Online jail records indicate that Frick faces multiple felony charges, including:
- Malice Murder
- Possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime
- Unauthorized discharge of firearms within 50 yards of a public highway (Misdemeanor)
Frick is currently being held without bond as he awaits his next court appearance. Investigators have not yet commented on whether a motive beyond the immediate verbal altercation has been established.
