BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island has left four people dead and over 20 injured, officials reported.
The shooting took place early Sunday morning at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island during a Battery Creek High School alumni tailgate event. A large crowd was present when sheriff’s deputies responded, finding multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Multiple victims and witnesses ran to nearby businesses seeking shelter from gunfire.” They also stated, This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones.”
Officials confirmed that four individuals were found dead at the scene, while over 20 others were injured, four of whom are in critical condition at local hospitals.
The property is owned by Willie Turral Food Services, and officials have attempted to reach them for further comments. Eyewitness accounts indicate that people were in attendance for the high school alumni event when the shooting erupted.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released, but community leaders, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, expressed their heartbreak over the shooting, offering prayers to the victims’ families.
St. Helena Island is known for being the largest Gullah community on South Carolina’s coast, home to descendants of enslaved individuals who worked on local rice plantations over a century ago. This tragic incident has sent shockwaves through a community that prides itself on its close-knit ties and rich cultural heritage.
