A mass shooting at a crowded bar hosting a high school alumni reunion on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, left four people dead and 16 others wounded early Sunday morning, October 12, 2025, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting erupted just before 1 a.m. at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, located about 40 miles north of Hilton Head Island. Hundreds of people were attending a Battery Creek High School alumni party when gunfire broke out in the parking lot outside the establishment.
The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office identified the four victims as 22-year-old Kashawn Glaze of Beaufort, 33-year-old Chiraad Smalls of Beaufort, 22-year-old A’shan’tek Milledge of Burton, and 54-year-old Amos Gary of St. Helena Island. All four died from gunshot wounds and were found dead at the scene.
Among the 16 injured victims, four were initially in critical condition and transported to area hospitals. Other injured individuals arrived at emergency rooms on their own, according to the sheriff’s office. Multiple victims and witnesses fled to nearby businesses seeking shelter from the gunfire.
Bar owner Willie Turral described the chaotic scene to local media, explaining that what had been a fantastic celebration quickly turned to mayhem. He indicated that he heard what sounded like machine gun fire from inside the establishment and witnessed people swarming in as bodies fell to the ground outside.
Turral revealed that one of the victims killed was a security officer who was the son of his father’s best friend. He had hired professional security staff for the event and noted that he had spoken with the victim the night before the incident.
On Wednesday, October 15, Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner provided additional details about the investigation, stating that an ongoing dispute between two or three individuals led to the violence. He indicated that authorities have substantial information about who is responsible but are waiting for forensic results on guns, bullets, and shell casings before making arrests.
Tanner revealed that as many as 700 people were celebrating at the venue when the dispute erupted just before closing time. He described the incident as stemming from an ongoing feud between the parties involved, who resorted to pulling guns on each other.
The sheriff expressed concern about what he characterized as a growing problem in Beaufort County involving machine guns. He noted that his office has made 24 arrests for possession of machine guns in the past year and a half, with only six of those arrested remaining in jail while 18 others were released on bond.
Tanner also attributed the violence to gang activity and social media disputes that fuel conflicts in the county. The State Law Enforcement Division and FBI are assisting with the investigation.
St. Helena Island is known as the epicenter of Gullah Geechee culture, representing people descended from enslaved Africans who worked plantations along the southeastern coast. Willie’s Bar and Grill describes itself as serving authentic Gullah cuisine and aims to spread the heartwarming spirit of the Gullah Geechee culture.
The shooting location had previously experienced violence in November 2022 when it operated as the Island Grill. Two people sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds in that incident, which also occurred in the parking lot around closing time.
Several South Carolina politicians responded to the shooting. Representative Nancy Mace expressed being completely heartbroken by the devastating incident and urged anyone with information to contact the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Senator Tim Scott described the news as heartbreaking and indicated that all South Carolinians would be holding those affected close in their hearts.
Community members who attended Wednesday’s briefing with Sheriff Tanner expressed concerns about increasing gang violence on the quiet island. Some residents also noted that rapid development in the area is reducing available recreational spaces for young people.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to process forensic evidence and build their case against the suspected shooters. Sheriff Tanner noted that while they have significant information about the perpetrators, they want to ensure a thorough investigation before proceeding with arrests.
