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In a tragic incident early Sunday morning, a shooting at a bustling bar on one of South Carolina’s inland Sea Islands left four individuals dead and injured 20 others.
The violent outbreak occurred at Willie’s Bar and Grill, a popular venue celebrated for its Gullah-inspired dishes. At the time, the bar was hosting an alumni gathering for Beaufort County’s Battery Creek High School, drawing in hundreds of attendees, according to The Associated Press.
Authorities have divulged minimal details about the shooting, only mentioning that they are investigating several “persons of interest.”
The Beaufort County coroner’s office has confirmed the identities of those who lost their lives: Kashawn Glaze, 22; Chiraad Smalls, 33; Amos Gary, 54; and A’shan’tek Milledge, 22.
Reports from the Island Packet indicate that Gary was on duty as security for the event. Among the 20 injured, four remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Willie Turral, the bar’s owner, said he’s stunned by what happened.
“I heard the shots, and it was scary from the inside, you know what I mean, like you could just tell the rapid succession of shots like it wasn’t a standard weapon like that,” said Turral. “You saw people giving CPR, you saw people picking people up, people crying, people care.”
“It’s hard not to have your name on the door and not feel the weight of what’s happening,” he told WCSC. “And then there’s another part that there’s maybe more that I could have humanely done, so it’s a process, and I know at the end of the day I’m focused on making things better.”
The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to call Investigator Master Sgt. Duncan at 843-255-3418.