One dead, 11 injured in mass shooting at South Carolina's Myrtle Beach

UPDATED: Apr 28, 2025 01:53 IST

A mass shooting in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday night, left one person dead and at least 11 others injured. The incident unfolded around 11:50 p.m. on North Ocean Boulevard, a popular tourist area, near Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, just off the beach.

According to authorities, officers responded to a disturbance involving multiple individuals, during which one person began firing a weapon. In response, an officer opened fire, fatally wounding the suspect.

Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene, with one woman seen clutching her leg in pain while officers rushed to her aid.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department later confirmed that the suspect, who was shot by the officer, died from their injuries. The police also clarified that the officer was not injured in the incident. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting, while the Myrtle Beach Police Department will carry out its internal review.

The shooting occurred in the city's entertainment district, at the start of the busy tourist season. Despite the tragic incident, Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune assured the public that the situation could have been much worse. “Our officer responded quickly, and in my opinion, saved lives,” she said. “This was an isolated event and doesn’t reflect the overall safety of Myrtle Beach.”

Councilman Gregg Smith echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that it was an isolated incident and not representative of the usual experience for visitors. Police Chief Amy Prock also noted that major crimes in the area have decreased significantly since 2015, thanks to improved technology and community policing efforts.

While some visitors expressed concern over the shooting, such as Nikki Petracco, who stated it made her rethink future trips to tourist areas, others like Washington D.C. visitor Sebastian McMillon remained undeterred. “There’s trouble everywhere,” he said. “We can’t let fear stop us from enjoying our vacation.”

As the investigation continues, the mayor urged the public to refrain from making premature judgments, promising that the final SLED report would be made public once completed. It’s expected to take about three weeks to gather all the necessary information.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace also responded to the tragedy, expressing her condolences for the victims and their families. “South Carolina stands strong, and we will not tolerate violence of any sort in our communities,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).