BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) – Community members gathered at the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce to support one another following the tragic mass shooting over the weekend on St. Helena Island.
In that case, deputies have a good idea of who the suspects are, but are waiting on testing to come back and for witnesses to identify the shooters.
The shooting on Sunday morning didn’t just leave four people dead and injure 16 others.
It shook a community molded by history and love for one another.
“It’s a sad time for all of us, and we offer our condolences to the families, of course, and to the community as a whole,” Chairwoman for the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, Viola Smalls, said.
It has been labeled one of the deadliest shootings in the county’s history.
When leaders with the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce heard about it, they knew they had to find a way to help.
They did so with an event that ran from 5:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. on Thursday.
“We know that we need love, all of us,” Smalls said. “We need support from one another, just to give a hug or smile, whatever it may take to help people heal.”
Bullet casings and other evidence were collected from Willie’s Bar and Grill early that morning and have since been sent to SLED, the FBI, and the Beaufort County lab for testing, but they still need another element that could help lead to arrests in the case.
“It would be helpful if someone who was there would speak out,” U.S. Senator for South Carolina, Tim Scott said.
Early on in the investigation, a law firm out of Columbia offered a reward for information to help get someone to come forward, but that expired earlier this week.
Now, a local businessman, O.C. Welch, is offering a $5,000 reward to try to get someone to come forward.,
Republican Senator Scott says that the information a witness provides could be the difference.
“Come forward with that information and help provide real peace to those families that were negatively impacted by the shooting.”
If you have any information, videos, or images from that night, you are being asked to contact the Sheriff’s office.
Those wanting to remain anonymous can use the office’s P3 tips app or submit them online at tipsbft.com.
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