Mother leads police to gun seizure at home where thousands found in 2015

PAGELAND, S.C. — A concerned mother went to Pageland police when she found pictures of her son on social media, holding guns.

She provided Pageland police with about 20 screenshots of those pictures that showed three teenagers pointing various weapons.

Some of the pictures were taken in cars, others were inside the home of Brent Nicholson, on McGregor Street.

On Friday, that tip led police to Nicholson’s home.

Last October, Nicholson was charged after police found more than 6,000 guns on his property.

There were so many, deputies called in South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to help with the investigation.

Officials said the house contained a horde of weapons, ammunition and scattered junk, making it difficult to walk through it.

Deputies spent weeks examining the guns and returning some back to their owners, as many were reported stolen.

Nicholson was charged with possession of stolen property and later released on bond.

Police are questioning him again after his son James Nicholson and Cameron McKinney, both 18, were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Pageland police said a 17-year-old was with them while they posted pictures of themselves holding and pointing the guns.

The minor's mother gave a statement to Pageland Police Chief Craig Greenlee.

“She was able to show us where the pictures were taken and was concerned about the Watermelon Festival, since these teens were carrying these guns," Greenlee said.

Pageland police got a search warrant and seized 40 guns, mostly hunting rifles, and some handguns.

Greenlee said Brent Nicholson told them they belonged to family members, but police are still investigating that.

People said they are worried that teens had access to guns.

"It’s crazy. There’s too many children that could get caught up in the crossfire if something happened," Candi Hargett said.

As of Monday, Brent Nicholson had not been charged, and the investigation into the origin of the guns is ongoing. James Nicholson and Cameron McKinney have been released on bond.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Pastor dies after train collides with truck in Gaston Co.
• 46 year-old woman found dead Charlotte park near West Charlotte School
• Woman delivers three sets of twins in 26 months
• Mother leads police to gun seizure at home where thousands found in 2015

Cox Media Group