Man behind viral video of Ocean Boulevard shooting to receive hero’s welcome

Bubba Hinson is on his way back to Myrtle Beach … and one city mayoral candidate is prepared to offer him a hero’s welcome.

According to a prepared statement from Myrtle Beach mayoral candidate Ed Carey, his campaign has planned a welcome ceremony and press conference for Hinson at 2 p.m. Friday. The location hosting the event has yet to be announced.

In June, Hinson’s account of a mass shooting on Ocean Boulevard shed light on the city’s evolving issue with crime — particularly gun violence.

“Business owners and citizens alike expressed an interest in showing their support and wanted to come together to let this young man know that we are a friendly town that welcomes him here any time,” Carey said in a prepared statement. “Mr. Hinson, while taken a video, captured a crime live. His streaming video brought to light crime problems in Myrtle Beach, but (Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes) continues express concern over optics rather than actions.”

Since first being streamed live via Facebook, the video has gone viral. It has also caused Hinson to become a chief target of criticism from Rhodes, who recently rebuked the volunteer firefighter from Bethune for not doing more to defuse the situation.

“That gentleman that took the film was a fireman that was here on a fireman’s convention,” said Rhodes. “He was a sworn officer that was supposed to respond to people in trouble and injured. He was so busy taking the film he never did what his job called for him to do, and that was to respond to injured people on the boulevard.”

Hinson later offered a response to Rhodes via Facebook Live.

“I’d like to take a moment to break down his comments. For the first part he is correct. I am a volunteer firefighter that was in Myrtle Beach for the fire convention, as well as my vacation. I’ve been going to Myrtle Beach for years, even before I joined the fire service,” he said. “… Again, I would like to note, that I was on vacation, I had no medical supplies, no gear and no jurisdiction. If I was on the street when the incident occurred and not on the eighth floor of a hotel, I would have tried to render aid if I believed it was safe as a Good Samaritan. Instead, I stayed on the eighth floor in a safe environment, and instructed someone to call 911, in which that person did.”

According to Carey, the event’s purpose is to offer sincere thanks and gratitude to Hinson.

“Like most of our outstanding Myrtle Beach police, fire and rescue workers, here’s a fine young man who did exactly as he should have … yelling for his friends to call 9-1-1 immediately as he continued to film the violence from the 8th floor of his oceanfront hotel,” Carey said in a prepared statement. “Hinson deserves our heartfelt thanks for his action, our appreciation for shining a bright light our serious crime situation … and frankly, an apology from the Mayor. Since one is not forthcoming, we’ll do the apologizing for him.”

This story was originally published November 1, 2017 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Man behind viral video of Ocean Boulevard shooting to receive hero’s welcome."