News Release: Shooting Following K9 Track at Leesburg Road and Harmon Road
- Deputy Jamie Burton
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
08/07/26
Sheriff Leon Lott discusses the traffic stop that lead to deputies returning gunfire during a K9 track off of Leesburg Road and Harmon Road.
Yesterday, August 6, 2026 just after 1:00 pm, Master Deputy Tavon Polk attempted to make a traffic stop on Lorenzo-Davis Road on a silver Chevy sedan for a suspended tag. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, initiating a vehicle pursuit. The suspect vehicle subsequently wrecked at Harmon Road and Leesburg Road and all occupants fled.
RCSD K9 responded and initiated a track. During an inventory search of the abandoned vehicle, deputies located a rifle, ammunition, narcotics, and pistol that was modified with a Glock switch.
RCSD Lt. Blanding and SRT Operator Pitts, along with K9 Specialist Sox and his partner K9 Nevada, tracked extensively through the woods to the area of Leesburg Road and Century Division Road. Just before 4:00 pm, deputies encountered an individual in the woods and identified themselves as law enforcement officers.
The suspect immediately began shooting at officers, repeatedly. RCSD deputies returned fire.
The suspect, Ja’Sean Fritz (20), was pronounced dead on scene. During the investigation, it was revealed Fritz was wanted out of Orangeburg County. No deputies were injured by gunfire.
K9 units and deputies initiated a secondary track for the remaining three suspects. Just after 6:00 pm, deputies located the remaining suspects, Nathaniel Burkett (19), Tre’Shawn Zeigler (19), and Ka’Saun Geathers (19), in the wooded area near Leesburg Road between Harmon Road and Congress Road. All three were detained without incident.
Geathers is charged with Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. Burkett and Zeigler are charged with Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. All three were transported to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
“Our deputies did what they were trained to do,” says Sheriff Lott, “they returned fire, and stayed on the ground until all three remaining suspects were found and taken into custody. I’m proud of the work our deputies did yesterday.”
Lt. Chris Blanding and K9 Specialist Cody Sox have worked with RCSD since 2015; K9 Specialist Sox is partners with 6-year-old K9 Nevada. SRT Operator David Pitts has worked with RCSD since 2013. Master Deputy Tavon Polk has been with RCSD since 2023.
Initial Stop Dash Cam:
