On Sunday, October 12, 2025, shortly before 1:00 a.m., deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple reports of gunfire at Willie’s Bar and Grill, located on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on St. Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina. The venue was hosting an unofficial gathering attended by hundreds of people, including former students celebrating a Battery Creek High School alumni event, when the shooting erupted.

Upon arrival, deputies discovered numerous victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Authorities later confirmed that 20 people were injured, including four victims who died. Several of the injured were transported by Beaufort County EMS to nearby hospitals, while others sought medical treatment on their own. Four victims were initially reported in critical condition.

The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office identified the four people who lost their lives as Kashawn Glaze, 22, of Beaufort; Sherrod Smalls, 33, of Beaufort; A’shan’tek Milledge, 22, of Burton; and Amos Gary, 54, of St. Helena Island. Officials later determined that one of the deceased had also discharged a firearm during the incident, though investigators continued to examine the exact sequence of events.

According to the sheriff’s office, hundreds of patrons were present when gunfire broke out, causing widespread panic as victims and witnesses fled to nearby businesses and properties seeking safety. Willie Turral, owner of Willie’s Bar and Grill, described the scene as one of “panic and fear” after what had begun as a community celebration. Authorities stated there was no ongoing threat to the public once the scene had been secured.

Investigators processed the crime scene for ballistic evidence, reviewed surveillance footage, and interviewed witnesses in an effort to identify everyone involved. Sheriff P.J. Tanner later stated that investigators believed the violence stemmed from an ongoing dispute between individuals, with evidence indicating that multiple firearms were discharged during the incident. The investigation remained active as detectives continued pursuing additional suspects and encouraging witnesses to cooperate.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office urged anyone with information, photographs, or video from the event to contact investigators, emphasizing that public cooperation would be critical to determining the complete sequence of events and identifying all responsible parties