Mass Shooting at Packed South Carolina Bar Leaves 4 Dead, 20 Injured on Historic St. Helena Island

A weekend celebration on one of South Carolina’s most culturally significant islands ended in tragedy early Sunday, when gunfire erupted outside a crowded bar, leaving four people dead and at least 20 others wounded, officials said.

The shooting occurred just after midnight at Willie’s Bar and Grill, a popular gathering spot on St. Helena Island, an area renowned as the largest and one of the most historic Gullah-Geechee communities along the southeastern coast. Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said they arrived to find chaos and dozens of victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

“It was screaming and panic and fear,” bar owner Willie Turral told reporters, describing the scene as bullets tore through the night air. “We were just enjoying a community event when everything went dark — literally and emotionally.”

Community Celebration Turns to Chaos

According to Turral, the bar had been hosting a high-school alumni event, a yearly local tradition that draws hundreds of residents and visitors to celebrate island heritage. The night was festive until bursts of automatic gunfire shattered the music and conversation.

Witnesses told investigators that most of the shots were fired outside the bar, though several rounds penetrated the building, sending patrons diving for cover under tables and behind the bar.

“It sounded like fireworks at first,” said Angela Fraser, a resident who had been dancing inside. “Then I realized people were falling. Everyone ran, and I just kept praying.”

Law Enforcement Response

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were on the scene within minutes and immediately began providing emergency aid while securing the area.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the sheriff’s office confirmed that “numerous victims were transported to area hospitals,” adding that several fled to nearby homes and businesses seeking shelter from the crossfire.

Sheriff P.J. Tanner called the shooting “one of the darkest nights this community has ever faced” and vowed a full investigation.

“This was a senseless act of violence in a place that means so much to so many,” Tanner said during a morning press briefing. “We are working around the clock to identify those responsible.”

No arrests had been announced as of Monday morning. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from the bar and surrounding businesses and have requested assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the FBI’s Charleston field office.

Victims and Hospitals Overwhelmed

Hospital officials in nearby Beaufort and Savannah, Georgia, said they treated a surge of patients with gunshot injuries overnight. Two victims remain in critical condition, while others were treated for wounds to their legs, arms, and torsos.

Names of the deceased have not yet been released pending family notification, but local leaders said all were believed to be St. Helena Island residents.

Emergency responders described chaotic conditions as ambulances lined the narrow two-lane roads leading off the island, trying to ferry victims to trauma centers nearly an hour away.

A Deeply Historic Community in Mourning

St. Helena Island, located about 65 miles southwest of Charleston, is home to roughly 5,000 members of the Gullah-Geechee Nation, descendants of enslaved West Africans who maintained unique cultural traditions after gaining freedom during the Civil War.

The island has long been a symbol of resilience and cultural pride, with its language, cuisine, and crafts celebrated across the South. Residents say the weekend’s violence has shaken that legacy of peace.

“This island has survived slavery, hurricanes, and segregation,” said Pastor James Heyward of the First African Baptist Church. “But this kind of violence — it cuts deep. We are supposed to be family here.”

Community leaders are planning a candlelight vigil at the Penn Center, one of the first schools for freed African Americans in the South and a cornerstone of the island’s identity.

Calls for Action and Reflection

Local officials and civil rights leaders called the shooting part of a larger national crisis of gun violence that continues to devastate American communities large and small.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said he was “heartbroken” and urged residents to cooperate with investigators.

“The tragedy on St. Helena Island reminds us that no community, no matter how peaceful or historic, is immune to the scourge of gun violence,” McMaster said in a statement.

The NAACP’s South Carolina State Conference condemned the attack and called for stronger gun-control measures.

“This community has preserved its culture through centuries of adversity,” the statement read. “We must now ensure it does not lose its people to bullets and fear.”

Witness Accounts Reveal Terror and Courage

Several witnesses described scenes of bravery amid chaos as strangers helped each other to safety.

“People were dragging the wounded into cars, tearing off shirts to stop the bleeding,” said Marcus Bryant, who was visiting family from Savannah. “It was terrifying, but everyone came together. That’s St. Helena.”

Others said the violence seemed to stem from an argument that escalated outside the bar, though police have not confirmed any motive. “We heard shouting, then the shots,” said Latasha Green, who lives two blocks away. “It felt like it went on forever.”

A Broader Pattern of Gun Violence

The St. Helena Island tragedy marks one of the deadliest mass shootings in South Carolina this year. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, more than 500 mass shootings have already occurred across the United States in 2025 — averaging nearly two a day.

While investigations continue, experts warn that communities like St. Helena — once considered insulated from urban crime — are increasingly vulnerable to gun-related conflict.

Dr. Robert Jenkins, a criminologist at the University of South Carolina, said:

“We’re seeing firearms disputes migrate from cities to rural and cultural centers. When guns are so readily available, even minor altercations can become deadly within seconds.”

An Island Searching for Healing

By Sunday evening, a steady stream of mourners placed flowers and candles outside Willie’s Bar and Grill. Gospel music drifted through the humid coastal air as residents wept, embraced, and prayed.

“This isn’t who we are,” said bar owner Willie Turral, his voice breaking. “I opened this place to bring people together. Now it’s a crime scene. But we’ll rebuild — for our people, for our island.”

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office urged anyone with information, photos, or videos from the event to contact investigators. A $25,000 reward has been offered for tips leading to arrests.

As darkness fell again over St. Helena Island, the flashing lights were gone — replaced by flickering candles and quiet hymns. For a community that has endured centuries of struggle, the call now is for peace, justice, and remembrance.