New details emerge from February arrests of South Carolina football players
More details from the February arrests of two South Carolina football players have been made public.
Freshman defensive end Monteque Rhames and second-year defensive back Anthony Rose are facing weapons charges related to having an AR-15 rifle on the University of South Carolina’s campus, per court documents obtained by The State.
Emily Adams of the Greenville News first reported the additional circumstances of the arrests.
According to a warrant for Rose’s arrest issued on Feb. 6, university housing staff “observed and photographed an AR-15 rifle” in Rose’s room at 650 Lincoln, a USC student housing property. When university police arrived at the apartment, Rose — according to the warrant — threw the rifle and its magazine out his window.
A second warrant for Rhames’ arrest served on Feb 3. indicated he, along with another unnamed defendant, then retrieved the rifle from a courtyard area outside the apartment. Rhames then “concealed the rifle in his pants, walked through the residence hall and ultimately left the property in a minor codefendant’s vehicle.”
Rose was charged with carrying or displaying a firearm in a public building or adjacent areas and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The second charge included a $20,000 personal recognizance bond. Rose was discharged from jail on Feb. 6, per Richland County court records.
Rhames was charged with obstructing justice and carrying weapons on school property. He was released from jail Feb. 3 via a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, per Richland County court records.
Rose, Rhames and freshman defensive back Cameron Upshaw, who was not named in the warrants or police reports but is under 18 years old, were all suspended from the football team when news of Rhames’ arrest was first made public last month.
Head coach Shane Beamer, in a Feb. 3 statement, said: “Our student-athletes know what is expected of them. They know that both the University and the football program will hold them accountable for their actions and decisions.”
All three were removed from the roster and are not with the team for spring practice.
Beamer addressed their statuses with the program on Tuesday: “That’s a university decision and I have bosses and there’s processes that those guys go through within the university and outside of the university as well. Right now, neither of the three are involved in our program. Thinking of them, support them and here for them, but right now they’re not a part of the program.”
Rhames, a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, signed with the Gamecocks in December. His first court appearance is scheduled for March 31, according to Richland County online court records.
The Sumter product was rated the No. 385 player and No. 35 edge rusher in the Class of 2023. He was also slotted as the No. 5 recruit in South Carolina.
Rhames and Upshaw were among the new signees who enrolled at South Carolina in January.
Rose arrived at USC in January 2022, did not see action in any games this past season and redshirted.
In a letter emailed by USC on Feb. 3 to 650 Lincoln residents and their families — and obtained by The State — the school said that “three students of the residence hall have been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. The students have been suspended from school, removed from the residence hall and are not permitted on campus.”
The email was sent by J. Rex Tolliver, the university’s vice president for student affairs and academic support.
“A full investigation is underway, but USC police indicate there is no ongoing threat to residents,” the letter said. “We are thankful that our staff and the students worked together to identify a risk and take appropriate action.”
