Two weeks after downtown shooting, why are Myrtle Beach leaders staying silent?
Two weeks after a deadly shooting involving a Myrtle Beach Police officer, city leaders have declined to answer questions about the case – including the names of the officers involved.
This is despite public demands on social media and by media for city officials to be accountable and transparent. Both local residents and visitors have raised the question of whether downtown Myrtle Beach is safe following the shooting that happened in a crowded and popular tourist section of the city.
Police released two incident reports about the shooting on April 26, 2025, that occurred in the 900 block of Ocean Boulevard, that left an 18-year-old dead and 11 others injured. However, the reports released after 5 p.m. on May 9, 2025, failed to include any additional details about the shooting.
Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock and Mayor Brenda Bethune conducted a press conference on April 30, 2025, four days after the shooting, but refused to provide basic information, such as how many people were shot and names of the officers involved, citing a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation into the shooting. Police also have refused to release video footage of the shooting.
A Myrtle Beach Police officer shot and killed 18-year-old Jerrius Davis, according to a release from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Police allege that Davis was firing his weapon into a crowd when officers arrived, ultimately leading to Davis being shot and killed.
Davis was in Myrtle Beach on spring break with family and friends.
However, it has later been learned that at least three other people were shot, including one who claims she was shot by an officer.
The officers were placed on administrative leave pending the SLED investigation.
SLED reported Monday that the case is still ongoing and active and that there is no update, according to an email from spokesperson Renee Wunderlich.
A message left with Myrtle Beach Police spokesperson Randolph Angotti was not returned by publication.
SLED has previously said that it is up to Myrtle Beach Police on what information they want to or will release. Wunderlich said that SLED is only investigating the officer-involved part of the case.
Here are questions that have been left unanswered:
- What are the names of the three officers involved in the shooting?
- How many of the 11 people who were injured were shot by police?
- How many people were actually shot?
- Did the alleged shooter shoot any of those who were injured?
- Will the other two men who were with the alleged shooter face charges?
- Why hasn’t any video footage from the shooting been released?
- What are the injuries of the 11 people?
- What led to the shooting and why was Davis firing into the crowd?
- Who is in charge of the investigation?
