A night of music and celebration turned into tragedy on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, when gunfire erupted at a crowded bar early Sunday morning. Four people were killed and at least twenty others were injured in one of the state’s deadliest mass shootings in recent years.
The violence took place at Willie’s Bar and Grill, a popular venue known for its Gullah-inspired cuisine and vibrant weekend atmosphere. Witnesses described scenes of panic as hundreds of patrons fled for safety when shots were fired just after midnight. Several victims were found both inside the bar and in surrounding parking areas, as emergency responders rushed to the scene to assist the wounded.
Authorities confirmed that four individuals were pronounced dead at the location. Of the twenty injured, several remain in critical condition at nearby hospitals. Law enforcement officials have launched a full-scale investigation but have not yet determined whether the attack was targeted or random.
Residents living near the bar reported hearing bursts of rapid gunfire echoing through the night. One neighbor described the sound as resembling automatic weapon fire. A staff member who had been working in the kitchen said he heard “a lot of shots” before chaos broke out among patrons and employees trying to escape.
Willie’s Bar and Grill has long been a fixture of the St. Helena Island community, attracting both locals and visitors drawn to the rich culture of the Gullah Geechee people — descendants of enslaved Africans who developed a unique heritage along the coastal regions of the southeastern United States. The tragedy has deeply shaken this close-knit island community, known for its cultural pride and historical significance.
As investigators continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, the motive behind the deadly outburst remains unclear. The usually peaceful island, located within Beaufort County’s Lowcountry region, is now grappling with grief, confusion, and unanswered questions about what sparked the violence that claimed four lives.