Mass Shooting at South Carolina Bar Leaves Four Dead and Revelers Silent

Fri Oct 17 2025 09:01:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A tragic mass shooting occurred at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuring sixteen others. The sheriff's department is struggling for witness cooperation amidst fears of retribution.

A sheriff's department is investigating a weekend mass shooting that erupted during a crowded party at Willie’s Bar and Grill in St. Helena Island, South Carolina, leading to four fatalities and sixteen injuries. Sheriff P.J. Tanner noted the challenge of getting eyewitness accounts from the approximately 700 people present at the event, as fear of repercussions stops potential witnesses from coming forward. While DNA, shell casings, and video evidence are under analysis, no arrests have been made yet.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — In a heartbreaking turn of events, a weekend mass shooting at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island has left four people dead and 16 others injured. According to Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner, the investigation is ongoing, but help from potential witnesses has been frustratingly minimal.

During the early hours of Sunday, chaos erupted when gunfire broke out at a party celebrating the 25th anniversary of Battery Creek High School's class of 2000. Despite an estimated 700 attendees, the sheriff indicated that they have yet to secure a single eyewitness account that could help identify the shooters. It’s ridiculous, Tanner remarked at a briefing.

The sheriff suspects the violence originated from a dispute among a few individuals familiar with one another, yet the fear of retribution is keeping witnesses from coming forward. He encourages anyone with information to report anonymously through Crimestoppers.

The scene, described as horrific, saw many bullets fired indiscriminately into the crowd, resulting in numerous injuries as people were either inside or outside the packed establishment. When that many shots are fired in a crowd... multiple people get injured. Multiple people died, Tanner stated.

Currently, investigators are analyzing DNA samples, weapons, and video footage as they work to piece together the events that transpired. Tanner emphasized the importance of building a strong case rooted in evidence rather than eyewitness testimonies to avoid bringing additional trauma to the families involved.

Kashawn Glaze, 22; Chiraad Smalls, 33; Amos Gary, 54; and A’shan’tek Milledge, 22, lost their lives due to this tragic incident. Willie’s Bar and Grill is revered in the community for its Gullah-inspired cuisine and for playing a vital role in local culture, particularly among the island's Gullah populations, who trace their ancestry back to enslaved people from West Africa.