News out of South Carolina

Four people were killed and at least 20 others have been injured in an early morning shooting at a busy South Carolina bar, authorities say.

The shooting occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on Oct. 12 at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. The restaurant is located about an hour north of Hilton Head.

"Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gunshots," the sheriff’s office said in a statement. Hundreds of people were at the scene when police arrived.

Multiple victims were transported to area hospitals. Among those injured, at least four were in critical condition.

“This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. 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 sheriff's office said.

Authorities said they are looking into persons of interest in the shooting, but the sheriff's office declined to provide additional information to USA TODAY.

Mass shootings in the United States

St. Helena Island is known as the epicenter of a culture of people descended from African slaves known as Gullah Geechee. The bar and grill where the shooting occurred describes itself as serving authentic Gullah cuisine.

Mass shootings, which the Gun Violence Archive defines as incidents where four or more people are shot, have become more common in the United States in the past decade. As of Oct. 12, there have been 336 mass shootings in the United States, according to Gun Violence Archive.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: At least 4 dead and 20 injured in South Carolina bar shooting, authorities say

Reporting by Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect