Teen in SC party boat mass shooting brought gun aboard, given alcohol, suit claims
A fifth lawsuit has been filed in a mass shooting that took place over Memorial Day weekend last year on a party boat in Little River.
Ten people were shot and another suffered a different injury while aboard a docked, private charter boat, according to police reports. More than 120 people were on the boat when the shooting occurred.
Jeremy Evans was one of the 10 people shot on May 25, 2025. Evans claims in the lawsuit filed April 6, 2026, that Meek Bell, Griselda Redd and Jacklyn Bellamy, who chartered the boat for the for-profit social outing; Hurricane Fleet charter service; and Little River Campground, where the boat was docked, were negligent in protecting and providing security to those who were aboard .
A message left for Bellamy and Bell were not returned. A phone number for Redd could not be found. The manager of Hurricane Fleet was not in the office when a reporter called for comment.
The suit states that there was inadequate security and alcohol was provided or sold, including to the underage shooter, which led to violence and increased emotions.
The defendants allowed people to board the boat with weapons, including the shooter, the suit said.
The suit alleges that in prior years of the event, altercations and dangerous activities had occurred, requiring assistance from the local police and that the promoters hire security for the event.
Evans is seeking a jury trial to recoup lost wages, medical bills and other damages.
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Other lawsuits filed after shooting
Four other people injured on the boat also filed lawsuits against the same defendants.
The lawsuits, filed by Kalayla Bufkin, Jared Graham, Vinca Hanna and Kamya Bufkin, claim that the defendants were negligent in their hiring and supervision practices on the boat and that the incident was preventable had adequate security measures been in place.
The party was being hosted by “Jackie O,” and left from docks near Watson Avenue, The Sun News previously reported.
The suit claims that overconsumption of alcohol spurred fights that led to the shooting.
One of the fights took place after an unsecured speaker fell from the second deck, hitting a woman on the first deck, the lawsuit alleges.
No one died in the shooting, but it caused “life-altering” injuries for the victims, The Sun News previously reported. One of the victims was scheduled to be deployed with the U.S. Air Force last July but was no longer able to serve.
Two teenagers arrested in shooting
Shawon Shamarion Williams, who was 19 at the time, was charged in May 2025 with multiple counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime after the incident.
In June 2025, an unnamed 16-year-old from North Carolina was also charged with multiple counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Williams was later charged with accessory after the fact in June.
