Another mass shooting took place on Saturday night, April 26, 2025, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. One person has been reported dead, and 11 more were left injured. A disturbance was reported in the 900 block of North Ocean Boulevard around 11:50 p.m. EST. When the Myrtle Beach Police Department officers appeared on the scene, they said an unnamed individual started firing their weapon. A responding officer fired their gun in response.
Police Respond to a Disturbance
One person succumbed to their injuries and died while the officers were responding to the disturbance. Officers noted that the disturbance involved multiple individuals. Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard identified the victim as 18-year-old Jerrius Davis, who was from a northwest city at least 100 miles away. Eleven other individuals are receiving medical treatment for the injuries they sustained, and no more casualties are expected.
Myrtle Beach Shooting Investigation
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) stated in a news release that they are investigating the incident. The state’s law enforcement division is also required to conduct an independent internal investigation since one officer was involved and fired their gun, which resulted in a fatal casualty. Mayor Brenda Bethune told WSTW News13 the officer acted appropriately.
On Facebook, the police department announced they are launching an internal review of the Myrtle Beach shooting while SLED completes its report. Bethune said it should take around three weeks before they are finished, and once it is complete, it will be released to the public. “Unfortunately, with social media, there’s going to be a lot of comments being said that are not true, and (people) trying to make more out of this, and we want to get the facts out so that people know what has happened,” she said.
Tourism Will Continue in Myrtle Beach
Multiple people, including tourists, locals, and Mayor Bethune, agree this was an isolated incident and should be treated as such. Bethune said, “This was an isolated incident. We had a huge crowd on the boulevard late last night, and we can’t always control what people are going to do, but we also can’t just shut ourselves in and do nothing.” She continued, “This is a great place to visit. It’s not an unsafe place at all. And I’m not making light of what happened in any way.”
Unfortunately, shootings are an everyday occurrence in the United States. Rarely do people think twice before visiting an area that involves multiple fatalities. Myrtle Beach will be no different, and tourists will continue to vacation there. This being an isolated incident does not make it any better. The Myrtle Beach Police Department is asking anyone with information about the incident to call 843-918-1382.
