A mass shooting at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, left four people dead and at least 20 others injured on Sunday, October 12, 2025, authorities confirmed. The incident, which occurred during a crowded alumni reunion for Battery Creek High School, has rocked the close-knit Gullah Geechee community in Beaufort County.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls just before 1:00 AM reporting gunfire outside the bar on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with rapid shots—some likened to a "machine gun"—prompting hundreds to flee for safety. Deputies arrived to find four victims fatally wounded and 16 others with gunshot injuries, four of whom were airlifted to hospitals.
On Monday, the coroner identified the deceased as A’shan’tek Milledge, 22, of Burton; Kashawn Glaze, 22, of Beaufort; Chiraad Smalls, 33; and Amos Gary, 54, of St. Helena. One victim was a security guard at the bar. The shooting, which investigators believe stemmed from a targeted feud involving two or three individuals, disrupted an event attended by 600 to 700 people.
No arrests have been made, though the sheriff’s office has identified persons of interest. The investigation, now involving the FBI and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), includes analysis of shell casings, bullets, and video evidence. Sheriff P.J. Tanner emphasized the lack of witness cooperation, stating, “I cannot tell you that you are safe in Beaufort County.” The FBI has launched a digital portal for tips, urging the public to submit photos or videos.
The bar, a local fixture hosting cultural events, has faced scrutiny, with some residents referencing a 2022 shooting at the same location when it operated as the Island Grill. Community responses include vigils held Sunday night and a gun violence awareness march Tuesday in Beaufort, organized by groups like Put Down the Gun Now Young People. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and Sen. Tim Scott expressed condolences, calling for tips to aid the investigation.
Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office at 843-255-3200 or the FBI’s tip portal.