CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Early in March 2022, the Chester County Sheriff's Office said they were looking for 30-year-old Vangereil "Gerald" Dreteckes Miller. Deputies accused him of shooting five people. Two of them died as a result of the shots Miller allegedly fired, and the sheriff's office deemed him armed and dangerous. A $10,000 reward was offered in May 2022 for information leading to Miller's arrest.
More than 5 months later, deputies say Miller was found more than 1,000 miles from Chester County in north Texas.
Chester County deputies said Miller was taken into custody in Fort Worth by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies around 6 p.m. Eastern time. He will be extradited back to South Carolina, facing a pair of murder charges. Miller will also be charged with possession of a weapon by a violent felon and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
According to the sheriff's office, Miller reportedly opened fire on five victims along Powell Drive on March 6. Kevin Feaster died on the scene while the other four victims were sent to a nearby hospital. Three days later, Shonta Neely passed away at the hospital.
Deputies warned Miller was deemed armed and dangerous, and two months after the shooting the FBI joined in the search for him. Previously, law enforcement said he had ties to other communities in South Carolina and Maryland.
The March 2022 shooting wasn't the only time deputies accused him of taking aim at others. In February 2020, Miller was accused of shooting a woman's foot by firing through her car.
WCNC Charlotte is reviewing Miller's court history for more information.
The Chester County Sheriff's Office thanked the Chester Police Department, FBI, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, Secret Service, US Marshals, Fort Worth Police Department, and law enforcement partners in San Antonio for assisting in the investigation.
Note: WCNC instituted a new policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.
WCNC Charlotte is choosing to show Miller's mugshot because of the severity of the charges he faces, along with the fact he had been on the run for almost six months.