BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island has left four people dead and at least 20 others injured, officials said.
The shooting happened 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 with gunshot wounds.
“Several victims and witnesses ran to nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gunshot wounds,” 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 the victims and their loved ones,” the statement read.
Four people were found dead at the scene, and at least 20 other people were injured. Among the injured, four are in critical condition in area hospitals.
The identities of the victims were not revealed.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the devastating shooting in Beaufort County. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this horrific act of violence,” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X.
St. Helena Island is the largest Gullah community on the South Carolina coast. The estimated 5,000 or more people living there are descendants of slaves who worked on rice plantations in the area before they were freed in the Civil War.
Smaller Gullah enclaves, referred to as Geshe in some areas, are scattered along the southeastern coast from North Carolina to Florida. Separation from the mainland meant the Gullah retained much of their African heritage, including their unique dialect and skills such as fishing with cast nets and basket weaving, researchers say.