Columbia Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge Amidst Girlfriend’s Murder Investigation

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Anthony Demetrius Reese, 55, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 31, 2025, Columbia Police Department officers were investigating the suspicious disappearance of Columbia woman Angela Fuller. Fuller, Reese's girlfriend, had been reported missing by a relative and was last seen with Reese.

Columbia Police officers spotted Reese's vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but he instead fled and eventually crashed in Lexington. A loaded firearm was recovered from Reese's vehicle. Reese has prior felony convictions for domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, shoplifting 3^rd offense or above, burglary 2^nd degree, and assault and battery 2^nd degree. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Law enforcement later recovered Fuller's body after an extensive search. Testing confirmed that the firearm recovered from Reese's vehicle matched the murder weapon.

Reese faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Reese after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Reese has pleaded not guilty to state charges of murder, unauthorized removal of a dead body, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen pistol. He remains innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt on those charges.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major is prosecuting the case.

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