A shooting late Saturday night, April 26, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, left one person dead and 11 others injured in a busy tourist area. The incident happened around 11:50 p.m. along North Ocean Boulevard, a popular destination filled with attractions and visitors.
Police officers who were patrolling the area responded to what they described as a disturbance involving several people. During the altercation, one individual began firing a weapon, according to the Associated Press. In response, an officer discharged their weapon, fatally striking the shooter. The deceased was identified as Jerrius Davis, 18, of Bennettsville, South Carolina, according to Horry County Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard.
The scene unfolded near Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attraction, close to the beachfront. Witnesses described chaotic moments as gunfire erupted, sending crowds into panic. Michael Howard, who was nearby, recalled hearing shots ring out and seeing people fall to the ground. He said he saw a girl collapse after being hit and witnessed blood at the scene. “It was just very traumatizing,” he told ABC 15.
Another witness recounted standing on the street with family when someone shouted “gun,” leading people to scatter in different directions. After making sure his niece was safe back at their hotel, he returned to the scene and saw Davis fire his weapon before being shot by the officer. He remembered vividly watching Davis fall to the ground.
Authorities have not yet released the cause of the initial disturbance or what led to the escalation. The Myrtle Beach Police Department stated that their officer acted based on an immediate threat and responded quickly.
Eleven people injured in the shooting were treated at local hospitals. The extent of their injuries has not been made public. Police have said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances and will conduct an internal review of the officer-involved shooting. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is also involved in the ongoing investigation.
Video footage shared online shows part of the aftermath, including one person lying face down on the sidewalk while two officers restrain another individual. A woman can be seen holding her leg and shouting, while officers appear to render aid.
The area remained cordoned off with police tape on Sunday morning, with North Ocean Boulevard closed between Eighth Avenue and 16th Avenue. The road reopened later in the afternoon once authorities completed their initial examination of the scene.
Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican whose district includes areas near Myrtle Beach, commented on the shooting through social media, saying she was heartbroken for the victims and their families. She added that South Carolina would not tolerate violence in its communities and expressed gratitude to the first responders on the scene.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department expressed sympathy in a public statement, offering “prayers and deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this incident” and thanked the public for its patience as investigations continue.
