Liputan6.com, Jakarta In Sunday, October 12, 2025, a mass shooting happened at Willie's Bar and Grill, located in St. Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina.
This tragic incident left four people dead at the scene and at least 20 others injured, as reported by CNN.
Advertisement
Authorities arrived on the scene after receiving reports of a shooting at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time.
The bar was hosting an "alumni party" for Battery Creek High School graduates, drawing hundreds of people.
Bar owner Willie Turral was inside the establishment, which was packed for a high school alumni event, when he heard shots going off “in bursts” outside. He described the scene: “Screaming and panic and fear.”
How the Tragic Incident Happened
The shooting at Willie's Bar and Grill began around 1:00 a.m. local time, turning what should have been a fun-filled reunion night into a horror.
Turral said the bar was hosting an event for Battery Creek High School alumni in Beaufort, about 10 miles northwest of St. Louis on Helena Island.
“It was scary from the inside,” he said, with “people not knowing what’s really going on outside, people trying to get to safety.”
He said people were having a good time when the gunshots rang out.
Chaos ensued after the first shots, with patrons scattering for escape and seeking help.
Police immediately responded to the emergency call and found several victims lying at the scene.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, adding to the long list of gun violence victims in the United States.
Impact and Victims
The South Carolina shooting tragedy not only claimed four lives but also seriously injured dozens of others.
Twenty people were injured, with four of them reportedly in critical condition and requiring immediate medical attention.
The identities of the dead and injured have not been officially released by authorities.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X that she was “COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting.”
She also offered prayers for the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this horrific act of violence.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office also issued an official statement, calling the incident "tragic and difficult for everyone."
Further Investigation
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on the social platform X that many people ran to nearby businesses seeking shelter from the gunfire.
“This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone,” the statement said. “We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones.”
The motive for the shooting remains a mystery for the investigation team to solve.St. Helena Island, where Willie's Bar and Grill is located, is known as a cultural center for the Gullah Geechee, a subgroup of African-Americans with a rich history.
The bar itself is known for serving authentic Gullah cuisine, making it a popular gathering place for locals.
Willie’s Bar and Grill advertises itself as serving authentic Gullah-inspired cuisine and describes itself on its website as “not just a restaurant but a community pillar committed to giving back, especially to our youth.”