Lincoln Co. Murder Suspect Released On Bond After Admitting To Shooting Neighbor

Freddie Seamster, a Lincoln County man, was granted pre-trial release earlier this month after he told deputies he shot his neighbor in self-defense. 

Seamster called authorities to his home on East Shadow Wood Drive around 12:30 p.m. on July 5 to report that he had shot his neighbor, 21-year-old Lucas Goss. Goss died as a result of the shooting. 

Ronald McClure lives nearby and said it was a chaotic scene after the shooting. 

“All sorts of heck broke loose,” he said. “There (were) police cars, fire department, rescue units, all sorts of stuff.” 

According to a probable cause affidavit written by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Chuck Brewer, Seamster surrendered his pistol to deputies when they arrived. 

Seamster said he shot Goss in self-defense. Seamster told deputies he was mowing his lawn when Goss began yelling at him, shouting a racial slur, and throwing rocks at him, according to the affidavit. 

Brewer wrote that Seamster claimed “Goss approached the unfenced property line and was wielding a large stick in a threatening manner to (Seamster).” Goss was standing on his property, 25 ft. away from Seamster at the time of the shooting. 

“None of the sticks I observed would be considered a dangerous or deadly weapon. No rocks of any significant size were observed on Seamster’s property,” Brewer wrote. 

Deputies arrested Seamster and booked him into the Lincoln County Jail. 

Andrea Vanderpool, Goss’ fiancé, told News 9 she was inside their trailer at the time of the shooting. She said Goss was arguing with Seamster over property lines. 

“We just want justice for Lucas,” Vanderpool said.  

District Attorney Allan Grubb initially charged Seamster with Manslaughter on July 12 and upgraded the charge the next day to first-degree murder. Grubb told News 9 he could not provide a comment for this story, citing the ongoing litigation. 

Seamster’s attorney, Katie Bourassa, declined to comment as well. 

Goss has previously been accused with attacking a neighbor. 

In April, Grubb’s office charged Goss with assault after he allegedly shot his neighbor with a pellet gun. Previously, he was convicted of threatening to “shoot up” a high school via a text message in 2017. 

Goss’ family has started an online fundraiser for court costs. 

The next court hearing is set for October.