Memorial Day weekend shooting leaves 11 injured near North Myrtle Beach as police hunt suspects
The Horry County Police Department described the shooting as an isolated incident stemming from an altercation on a charter boat during a private Memorial Day gathering. There were about 124 people onboard the boat, including four crew members, when the shooting occurred, Horry County police said during a Tuesday press conference.
Three victims are still hospitalized while eight have been released, authorities said during the press conference.
"This type of violence will not be tolerated in Horry County," HCPD Chief Kris Leonhardt said. "We are going to do our very best to investigate this case and bring criminal charges against these folks that have caused this incident here in our county."
Horry County Fire Department Chief Joseph Tanner said authorities initially got a call around 9:15 p.m. reporting an injury and responded accordingly. Upon arrival, officials located multiple gunshot-wounded victims.
The charter boat party attendees were from out of town, Leonhardt said, making it more difficult to track down witnesses.
A total of 10 victims sustained gunshot wounds and another person reported an unknown injury not related to gunfire, the police department said in a Monday press release. Some victims were recovered from the water, the North Myrtle Beach Police Department (NMBPD) said in a separate press release.
"Of those, the worst of the injured are in critical but stable condition at area hospitals," Horry County police said in a press release.
Videos and photos posted to social media on Sunday evening showed a heavy police presence in the area of the Dolphin Cruise parking lot in Little River, located north of North Myrtle Beach.
NMBPD also said the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating a separate incident involving a responding North Myrtle Beach officer who was injured with his own firearm near the Harbourgate Marina in North Myrtle Beach.
"A NMBPD Officer was entering a gate to the dock when his rifle discharged twice, with one of the rounds striking his leg," the department said in its press release. "At the time of the discharge, the Officer had both of his hands on the gate, which was confirmed by later video evidence. Due to the Officer not attempting to utilize his weapon at the time, all Officers on scene believed that shots were being fired from the marina area."
The officer was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries.
Video footage obtained from a witness apparently shows the incident, and authorities determined that "the discharge was from the wounded Officer's rifle," and the scene was released to SLED.
Horry County police said the shooting remains under investigation, and "there is currently no associated risk to the community."
Crime concerns in and around Myrtle Beach have been heightened since April 26, when a shooting in the Myrtle Beach entertainment district left the shooter dead and 11 victims injured. Myrtle Beach officials described the shooting as an isolated incident at the time.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Horry County PD Crime Tip Line at 843-915-8477.
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