Top Myrtle Beach area stories: Drug sentencing, beached whale, 35K coming for CCMF
From a federal drug trafficking sentencing to a pregnant whale washing ashore, several major stories shaped the Myrtle Beach area on June 3, 2026.
Here’s a recap of the top headlines you need to know.
- Four Mexican nationals living in the U.S. illegally were sentenced federally for distributing fentanyl and heroin in the Myrtle Beach area. The drug operation originated in Mexico, ran through Myrtle Beach during 2023 and 2024, and was shut down after a federal indictment in October 2024, with all four men set to be deported after completing their sentences.
- An approximately eight-foot pregnant Dwarf sperm whale washed ashore on Garden City Beach on Monday evening and died despite the public pushing it back into the water, with its baby also dying.
- Three teenagers were arrested after a shooting at Sandygate Village Apartment on Sunday afternoon left two people wounded, with Romeo Guy Elpers, 17, and Ian Conneil Monroe, 18, each charged with two counts of attempted murder.
- About 35,000 people are expected to pack downtown Myrtle Beach for the Carolina Country Music Fest at Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion Place from Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 7.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
Terri Richardson
The Sun News