Shooting in downtown Myrtle Beach: 4 suspects detained, several injuries reported
Several people were injured after gunshots caused fear and commotion along Myrtle Beach’s most popular tourists stretch Sunday evening.
At least one person was shot in the back, according to a witness and police radio traffic.
Myrtle Beach police went to the 1100 block of North Ocean Boulevard for a report of gunshots around 7:15 p.m., Cpl. Thomas Vest said. The area is near several attractions, including Ripley’s and the Skywheel.
Vest said several injuries were reported, but none are believed to be life-threatening. Officers detained four people in the shooting’s aftermath.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact police at 843-918-1382.
One witness, who declined to provide his name, said two groups of people were talking across the street from each other. Both groups acted like they had guns and then one person pulled his. That is when the witness told his kids to run.
“I said ‘go-go, they got a gun,’” the witness said.
The witness ran into a nearby store for cover when the shooting continued.
“They were whistling past my head,” the witness said of the bullets. He said a woman was shot in the back, and police ran in to provide her care. Several windows at the Lazy Parrott were shot out in the incident.
Another witness, who also declined to provide his name, said he was in his car on Ocean Boulevard when two groups were talking to each other from opposites sides of the street. The groups started shooting and the witness ran from his car at Mr. Joe White Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.
“Lord, let me get out of it,” the witness said of what he thought as he ran. “Lord, let me live.”
That witness said he recently moved to Myrtle Beach from North Carolina and drove to Ocean Boulevard to get out of the house, enjoy the beach and take in the scene. Now, his car was blocked off by police tape.
“You think like, ‘man this is crazy,’” the witness said. “You see it on TV, but you never expect to see it.” He then added, “I won’t be here [on Ocean Blvd.] next weekend.”
Cars and people packed that area of Ocean Boulevard before the shooting. This is the first weekend that city hotels could take new reservations after coronavirus restrictions limited much of the activity in Myrtle Beach, and many were sold out.
Police and fire crews blocked off several blocks on and around Ocean Boulevard as they investigated the shooting.
The Myrtle Beach City Council has called an emergency meeting for Monday “for an update on the COVID-19 health emergency.” There is no word if the meeting is connected to the shooting or the activity seen during the weekend.
This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 7:54 PM.
