Willie's Bar & Grill after an early morning shooting on October 12, 2025 in St. Helena Island, South Carolina. The shooting left at least 4 dead and 20 injured.
Willie Turral, owner of Willie's Bar & Grill, pauses while speaking to reporters after an early morning shooting on October 12, 2025 in St. Helena Island, South Carolina. The shooting left at least 4 dead and 20 injured.

Four people died and nearly two dozen were wounded in a mass shooting at a South Carolina bar over the weekend.

Gunfire erupted at Willie's Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island in the early hours of Sunday, Oct. 12, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.

"This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident," the sheriff's office said in a news release. "Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones."

Here's what we know about the shooting.

Has anyone been arrested?

Authorities are investigating persons of interest in connection with this shooting. No arrests have been announced as of Monday, Oct. 13.

What to know about the victims

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said the shooting took place just before 1 a.m.

At least 20 people were injured, and multiple victims were transferred to local hospitals. At least four people were reported in critical condition as of Sunday, Oct. 12.

On Oct. 13, the local county coroner's office confirmed to USA TODAY that all of the dead had been struck by gunfire.

The office identified them as Kashawn Glaze, 22; Chiraad Smalls, 33; A’shan’tek Milledge, 22; and Amos Gary, 54.

Glaze and Smalls are both of Beaufort, South Carolina. Milledge is from Burton, South Carolina, and Gary is from St. Helena.

USA TODAY has reached out to local authorities for more information.

Where did the shooting occur?

St. Helena Island, about 40 miles north of Hilton Head 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.

It was hosting a Battery Creek High School alumni party when the gunfire started. Owner William Turral spoke with local news outlet WJCL about the scene, describing it as "a fantastic time" until it shifted to "mayhem."

Hundreds of people were at the scene when law enforcement arrived.

"Things happened so fast, just bodies on the ground, people just trying to duck for cover," he told the television station.

Victims and witnesses rushed to the nearby establishments to dodge the gunfire, authorities said. One of the bar's security officers was among those killed.

Community left stunned; vigil honors the dead

Photos posted by WSAV on Facebook show a vigil outside Willie's Bar and Grill to pay tribute to the victims. The comment section is flooded with people offering their prayers and condolences.

“It is very scary to have something like this happen so close to home," resident Jindia Blount told WLTX.

“You never want to be like, ‘Oh, we made national news, but for the wrong reasons.’ It’s just unfortunate for those families and for Willie and his family. This is their business."

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina bar shooting leaves community stunned, 4 dead. What we know.

Reporting by Taylor Ardrey, Karissa Waddick and Michael Loria, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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