South Carolina bar shooting leaves four people dead and 20 injured, officials say | US news
Four people were killed and at least 20 others were injured in a mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island, authorities said.
The attack occurred early Sunday at Willie’s Bar and Grill on the island of St. Helena, authorities said. When sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene, there was a large crowd and they found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.
“Multiple victims and witnesses ran to nearby businesses and properties for cover from the gunshots,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said. he said in a statement on 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 the victims and their loved ones,” the statement said.
While 4 people died at the scene, at least 20 people were injured. 4 of the injured were in critical condition and were treated in hospitals in the region.
The identities of the victims were not disclosed.
“I am TOTALLY HEARTBREAKED to learn of the devastating shooting in Beaufort County,” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace shared on X. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this horrific act of violence.”
The island of St Helena is known as the epicenter of the human culture descended from African slaves known as the 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 in which four or more people are shot, have become more common in the United States over the past decade.
