Investigation continues; Persons of interest remain in jail on ‘unrelated charges’
By Mike McCombs and Amber Hewitt
The Island News
Editor’s note: By this newspaper’s publication date, the details of this story may have changed significantly. We will continue to update this story on YourIslandNews.com.
Also, any family or friends of victims of this tragedy who would like to share the stories of their loved one, or anybody who experienced this event first-hand who would like to speak about it can reach out to us at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.A private reward of up to $10,000 is being offered in the investigation of the Oct. 12 Willie’s Bar & Grill mass shooting. And though there have been no charges filed in the case, two men believed to be involved in the incident that left four dead and 16 others wounded remain detained in the Beaufort County Detention Center.
Persons of interest
Anferny Devon “Ant” Freeman, 27, of St. Helena Island, was arrested Monday afternoon, Oct. 13, the day after the shooting, during a traffic stop, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), and charged with breach of peace, aggravated in nature; and possession of a machine gun in an unrelated 2024 case.
At the time, BCSO spokesperson Lt. Daniel Allen emphasized that these charges were not related to the Oct. 12 shooting, and would not confirm or deny that Freeman was a person of interest in the Willie’s shooting, but sources close to law enforcement told The Island News that authorities believed he is tied to the case because “several people identified Freeman that night at the scene.”
Another source with knowledge of that night’s events called Freeman a “suspect” and told The Island News that Freeman himself was wounded that night at Willie’s Bar & Grill and sought treatment at Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville in Jasper County.
A recording of a phone call in possession of The Island News, identified by a member of the BCSO as a dispatch call, names Freeman as a “possible suspect or shooter,” as identified by a third party.
Later on Monday night, Oct. 13, Marktazius Jovan “MJ” Smalls, 23, of St. Helena Island, was arrested by the BCSO in a raid for possession of narcotics and the same two charges as Freeman — breach of peace, aggravated; and possession of a machine gun.
Once again, Lt. Allen emphasized that these charges were unrelated to the Oct. 12 shooting at Willie’s. But a law enforcement source confirms to The Island News that Smalls, too, is a person of interest in the case.
According to a source, a machine gun and cocaine were recovered in Smalls’ arrest.
It is unclear if a gun was recovered when Freeman was arrested. The BCSO has not responded to The Island News’ latest questions about his arrest.
Freeman bonded out on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 14 and was free for a week until his bond from a previous case – a 2023 charge of failure to stop for a blue light, first offense – was revoked and he was rearrested on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Both men have remained incarcerated in the Beaufort Count Detention Center since.
There has been no more information released publicly in the case since a BCSO statement on Tuesday, Oct. 21, that included a plea for members of the community to come forward with any information that they have about the incident.
As previously reported, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has set up a website for digital media tips specifically for this shooting.
Anyone with cellphone video or other multimedia recordings of the St. Helena shooting are encouraged to upload the media to www.fbi.gov/sthelenamassshooting.
BCSO is asking for any information beyond digital media to be submitted to the lead BCSO investigator for this case, Master Sgt. Duncan at 843-255-3418 or email him at TDuncan@BCGov.net.
The reward
Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County, Inc., announced a “Private Reward Donation of up to $10,000” along with Christopher Gibbs of The Gibbs Law and Personal Injury Law Firm, LLC, in a news release on Monday, Oct. 27.
“Following the tragic incident, Mr. Gibbs issued a reward on behalf of his firm and has since worked with the appropriate authorities to officially partner with Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County,” the release reads. “This agreement ensures that the funds will be used to incentivize community members to come forward with information that leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible, as identified by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
All tips, inquiries, and information must be submitted directly to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County through the P3 Tips Mobile App available for Android and iOS in the app store, the website at www.tipsbft.com, or via the 24/7 toll-free tip hotline at 1-844-TIPS-BFT (844-847-7238).
Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County, Inc. is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization operating under its own established bylaws. All tips remain anonymous, and eligible tipsters may receive a reward for information that leads to an arrest.
Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
