Four Dead, Twenty Injured in South Carolina Bar Shooting

A mass shooting at a crowded bar on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, early today has left four people dead and at least 20 others injured, according to local authorities.

The shooting occurred at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, with sheriff’s deputies arriving to find multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Witnesses and victims sought shelter in nearby businesses following the gunfire. “Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office stated. Four of the injured are currently in critical condition at area hospitals.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims. The incident has deeply impacted the close-knit community of St. Helena Island, which is the largest Gullah community on the South Carolina coast, a unique culture descended from enslaved Africans who preserved many of their ancestral traditions. You can learn more about the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and its significance.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace expressed her sorrow, posting on social media, “COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting in Beaufort County. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.” This shooting adds to the growing number of mass shooting events across the nation, as tracked by the Gun Violence Archive.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the shooting and has asked for patience as they gather information and support those affected.