A mass shooting at a bar on St Helena Island, South Carolina, has left four people dead and at least 20 injured, according to local officials.
Deputies from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of gunfire early on Sunday at Willie's Bar and Grill. They found multiple victims with gunshot wounds and a large crowd fleeing the scene.
“Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots,” the sheriff's office said in a statement. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while four others were in critical condition at local hospitals.
US Representative Nancy Mace expressed her devastation on social media, calling the incident a “horrific act of violence.” The bar is known for serving authentic Gullah cuisine, and the island is a cultural hub for the Gullah Geechee community, descendants of African slaves.
Mass shootings, defined by the Gun Violence Archive as incidents where four or more people are shot, have become increasingly common in the United States over the past decade.
