Four killed in early Sunday tragedy that injured more than two dozen
By Mike McCombs
The Island News
The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office has identified the four people killed early Sunday morning, Oct. 12, in a mass shooting on St. Helena Island.
According to Chief Deputy Coroner Shane Bowers, pronounced dead on the scene at Willie’s Bar and Grill at 7 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at 12:49 a.m., of gunshot wounds were:
— Kashawn Glaze, a 22-year-old male from Beaufort;
— Sherrod Smalls, a 33-year-old male from Beaufort;
— A’shan’tek Milledge, a 22-year-old female from Burton; and
— Amos Gary, a 54-year-old male from St. Helena Island.
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), four more victims were transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital on Sunday night with critical injuries, while at least 20 more people were injured.
It is unclear how many of those people were shot.
According to the BCSO, just before 1 a.m., Sunday, the Communications Center received multiple reports of a shooting at Willie’s Bar and Grill.
The BCSO said in a release that upon arriving at the scene, deputies made contact with a large crowd of people, several suffering from gunshot wounds, and hundreds of people were at the location when the shooting occurred. Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots.
According to sources, the crowd was so large as a result of a class reunion event for Battery Creek High School alumni.
According to the BCSO, in addition to victims transported by Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the hospital, more victims continued to show up on their own at area hospitals seeking medical attention from injuries sustained at the scene.
According to the BCSO release, the circumstances of this incident are still under investigation. The release also said the BCSO is investigating persons of interest.
“This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident,” the BCSO release said. “Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones.”
According to the Gun Violence Archive, a mass shooting is defined as any incident where four or more people are shot.
The Sheriff’s Office also thanked the multiple law enforcement agencies, area fire departments, and Beaufort County EMS, who worked the scene to assist those with injuries.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Master Sergeant Duncan at 843-255-3418. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office encourages the community to report suspicious and criminal activity by calling our non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777.
If wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app on your mobile device, online at tipsbft.com, or by calling 844-TIPS-BFT (844-847-7238).
This story will be updated.
Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
