A mass shooting erupted late Saturday night in the heart of Myrtle Beach’s busy tourist district, leaving one person dead and at least 11 others injured, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 11:50 p.m. along the 900 block of North Ocean Boulevard, near the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not attraction, an area crowded with tourists and locals at the start of the busy spring season, according to the Myrtle Beach Police Department.
Police said officers on patrol witnessed a disturbance involving multiple individuals when one person began firing a weapon. “At that time, based on the immediate threat, one of our officers responded by discharging their firearm,” a police spokesperson said. The officer was not injured.
The individual shot and killed by police was identified as Jerrius Davis, 18, of Bennettsville, S.C., according to Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard. Authorities confirmed Davis died from his injuries at the scene.
A total of 11 people sustained injuries during the gunfire and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The extent of their injuries was not immediately released.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as gunshots rang out and people scrambled for cover. “I remember hearing gunfire shots just start going off everywhere,” said Michael Howard, a tourist who witnessed the shooting. “I remember seeing a girl fall that had been injured, I remember seeing the guy who had been shot fall to the ground. I seen blood everywhere. It was just very traumatizing”.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has launched an independent investigation, while Myrtle Beach police conduct an internal review, as is standard procedure. Mayor Brenda Bethune praised the swift police response, saying, “Our officer responded quickly, and in my opinion, saved lives. This was an isolated event and doesn’t reflect the overall safety of Myrtle Beach”.
Authorities urged anyone with information or video footage to contact SLED or Myrtle Beach police as the investigation continues.
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