Four people were killed and nearly two dozen injured after a gunman opened fire on a crowded restaurant in South Carolina early Sunday morning. Authorities said they are investigating persons of interest, but no word of an arrest has been made.
4 dead, no arrests announced
Just before 1 a.m. on Sunday, a gunman opened fire at Willie’s Bar and Grill on South Carolina’s St. Helena Island, roughly 90 miles southwest of Charleston. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while another four were in critical condition at the hospital. At least 20 people were injured in the attack.
In a Facebook post, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said that the circumstances surrounding the attack are still under investigation and that the agency is investigating persons of interest. No word of an arrest has been made.
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According to local media outlet WISTV, the restaurant was hosting an alumni party for a local high school. As such, hundreds of people were present when the shooting occurred. A security guard for the event was among those killed.
The names of all the victims have not been released, pending notification of next of kin.
State, local leaders react
“The tragic news out of Beaufort County is heartbreaking. I’m lifting up in prayer the families who lost loved ones and those who were injured,” Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said in a post to X. “All of us in South Carolina will be holding those affected close in our hearts in the days ahead.”
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said she was “completely heartbroken” by the news, adding, “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.”
The sheriff’s office also extended condolences to the victims and their families, writing, “This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones.”
Beaufort County Commissioner York Glover, meanwhile, cast blame on the restaurant itself. “We cannot tolerate this kind of behavior in our community. I am calling for this business to be shut down immediately,” Glover said. “This is in the heart of our community. I will call upon our local law enforcement agency to do what is necessary to bring those responsible to justice.”
WISTV reports that the owner of Willie’s Bar and Grill closed the establishment back in December to “make renovations and upgrades to prevent incidents like this from happening.”
According to The Associated Press, St. Helena Island is home to around 5,000 Gullah, making it the largest Gullah community along the South Carolina coast. The group’s ancestors were African slaves brought to the area to work rice plantations. They were eventually freed in the wake of the Civil War and settled in the region.
2nd shooting to rock the Carolinas
Sunday’s attack was the second mass shooting to rock the Carolinas in nearly as many weeks.
On Sept. 27, a self-described “combat veteran” and former Marine traveling in a boat opened fire on a waterfront restaurant in North Carolina, killing three people and injuring five others. Police described that attack as “highly premeditated” and “targeted.”
