Myrtle Beach Shooting: Three Killed In Front Of Busy Boardwalk

A Myrtle Beach shooting left three people dead and a fourth wounded when a gunman opened fire amid a crowd of tourists on the popular boardwalk.

The shooting took place at about 11 pm on Saturday, near the Bermuda Sands Motel. Police have not released many details of what led up to the shooting or whether they have any suspects in custody.

Witnesses said the Myrtle Beach shooting stemmed from an argument between two groups.

A witness who asked to remain anonymous told CBS affiliate WCSC, “Somebody fighting in the streets over something that happened in the streets. Somebody told somebody to move out the streets. Basically, that’s what happened, that’s what escalated from the beginning.”

Others said the fight very quickly escalated from fists to gunshots.

“At first, everyone was standing around to see who was going to win the fight. Then they started shooting and everyone scattered,” George Covington told the Sun News.

The victims of the Myrtle Beach shooting were identified as Devonte Dantzler, 21, of Summerville, SC; Jamie Williams, 28, of Ladson, SC; and Sandy Gaddis Barnwell, 22, of Summerville, SC. Deputy Coroner Darris Fowler noted that all the deaths were ruled as homicides, WCSC reported.

There was a second incident in Myrtle Beach on Saturday, with a person being shot multiple times on Ocean Boulevard near Sixth Avenue South. The shooting took place around 9 pm, and police have not said if there is a connection between the incidents.

The shootings took place just hours after another mass shooting in Isla Vista, California. Police said gunman Elliot Rodger killed his three roommates before going on a planned killing spree, shooting women at a sorority house as well as random pedestrians during a moving gun battle with police.

The Myrtle Beach shooting took place during the city’s annual Atlantic Beach BikeFest, a Memorial Day weekend tradition. Police said there are typically problems like motorcycle crashes and minor offenses during the rally, but not usually large-scale violence.