South Carolina bar shooting leaves four dead, 20 injured, officials say | South Carolina

A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island left four people dead and at least 20 injured, authorities say.

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 suffering from gunshot wounds.

“Several victims and witnesses ran to nearby businesses and properties for cover from the gunfire,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on the social media platform X.

“This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue our investigation into this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones,” the statement said.

Four people were found dead at the scene and at least 20 others were injured. Among the injured, four were in critical condition in area hospitals.

The identities of the victims have not been released.

“COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn of the devastating shooting in Beaufort County,” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace posted 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 a culture of descendants of African slaves known as the Gullah Geechee. The bar and grill where the shooting took place 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.