At least 11 people were injured in a shooting incident on Memorial Day following an altercation on a charter boat in Little River, South Carolina, on Sunday, May 25, 2025. The event occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Watson Avenue near the Intracoastal Waterway, approximately 20 miles northeast of Myrtle Beach.
According to Horry County Police, 10 individuals sustained gunshot wounds, while one more person suffered a non-gunfire-related injury. All 11 victims were taken to area hospitals by Horry County Fire Rescue, with some additional reports indicating that victims also reached medical facilities in private vehicles. Authorities noted that some of the critically injured patients were listed in critical but stable condition on Monday morning.
The altercation, described by police as starting during a private Memorial Day weekend event aboard a charter boat, led to the shooting. The vessel was confirmed docked at the time, but investigators are still determining the exact location where the altercation began. Harold Wiegel, a partner at Myrtle Beach Adventures, stated that passengers had just disembarked when the violence broke out at the marina.
Wiegel identified the boat as the Hurricane, operated by Little River Fishing Fleet, according to NBC News. However, Horry County police later clarified that the vessel was the Hurricane II, noting that investigators were still determining “the ownership of or company coordinating the charter.” When contacted by The Associated Press, a representative from Little River Fishing Fleet confirmed customer involvement but did not provide further details.
A party featuring a DJ was advertised online for Sunday night, scheduled to conclude at 9 p.m., according to multiple reports. A woman who answered a phone number from the promotional material expressed distress over witnessing friends get shot but declined to provide more information.
Randy Evans recounted his 25-year-old son’s experience during the incident. His son was shot in the ankle and toe but utilized his bathing suit as a makeshift tourniquet to assist others who were more severely injured. Evans told The Post and Courier that “The surgery was better than they expected,” and noted his son would not need pins in his foot or ankle, adding, “He’s going to be OK.”
Video footage from the site showed numerous police vehicles and ambulances in the area throughout the evening. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire and observing the immediate emergency response. Frank Demasi, a nearby resident, described hearing five consecutive shots, initially mistaking them for fireworks before realizing the gravity of the situation. Charleen Rodgers, another witness, described the continuous sirens that followed the shooting.
Police spokesperson Mikayla Moskov clarified that while the altercation began on the docked charter boat, no one was shot aboard the vessel. When gunfire erupted, some people ran into the water, others fled to the parking lot, and some returned to the boat for safety. Most victims were on the dock and the surrounding land when struck by bullets.
The incident prompted a large-scale emergency response from multiple law enforcement agencies. Approximately 90 minutes after the shooting, Horry County police confirmed no ongoing threat to the community and characterized the violence as isolated. Detectives are continuing their investigation into the shooting. Since the incident, two arrests have been made in connection with the violence.
Authorities announced the arrest of 19-year-old Shawon Shamarion Williams, a U.S. Navy sailor, in Lake County, Illinois. Williams is facing multiple counts of attempted murder and weapons violations. In a separate development, a 16-year-old from North Carolina was also taken into custody and charged with eight counts of attempted murder. Both suspects were allegedly involved in the altercation that led to the gunfire. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may follow.
In a related incident, a North Myrtle Beach police officer was injured while responding to assist with the Little River shooting. The officer’s rifle accidentally discharged twice while entering a gate at Harbourgate Marina, approximately three miles from the shooting scene, with one round striking the officer in the leg. Video evidence showed both of the officer’s hands on the gate when the weapon discharged, leading others to initially suspect shots were being fired from the marina area.
The injured officer was first taken to McLeod Seacoast Hospital and then moved to Grand Strand Medical Center for surgery. North Myrtle Beach police reported the officer was in stable condition, facing “a long recovery road ahead.” The State Law Enforcement Division has been asked to assist in investigating the accidental discharge.
Little River is a scenic fishing village along Highway 17 between North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the North Carolina border. The community, with approximately 11,000 residents, is popular for fishing charters, dolphin cruises, and casino boat trips. The Watson Avenue docks, where the shooting took place, sit along the Intracoastal Waterway and serve as a departure point for various maritime activities.
Harold Wiegel, whose son lives near the marina and heard the shooting, expressed surprise at the occurrence of such violence in the usually peaceful area. The Hurricane II, operated by Little River Fishing Fleet, can accommodate over 100 passengers, though authorities have not disclosed the number aboard during Sunday’s charter. Wiegel suggested that the incident might lead to increased security measures, such as installing cameras and enhancing passenger screening on larger vessels.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to the Memorial Day weekend violence. Police have urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Horry County Police Department.
