A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island has left four people dead and at least 20 injured, officials say.
The shooting occurred early Sunday at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St Helena island, officials said. A large crowd was at the scene when sheriff’s deputies arrived and found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.
“Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots,” the Beaufort county sheriff’s office said in a statement on the social media platform X.
“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,” the statement said.
Four people were found dead at the scene, and at least 20 other people were injured. Among the injured, four were in critical condition at area hospitals.
The victims’ identities were not released.
“COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting in Beaufort County,” US Representative Nancy Mace posted on X. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.”
St Helena island is known as an epicenter of a culture of people descended from African slaves known as Gullah Geechee. The bar and grill where the shooting occurred describes itself as serving authentic Gullah cuisine.
Mass shootings, which the Gun Violence Archive defines as incidents where four or more people are shot, have become more common in the US in the past decade.
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