Victim who was shot and killed near Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Boulevard identified
A Greenwood native died in a Monday morning shooting near Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach.
The Horry County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Cadric Elmore Jr. His death was ruled a a homicide.
Myrtle Beach police responded to Ocean Boulevard and 15th Avenue South for the reported shooting around 12:40 a.m. When officers arrived, they found the victim dead in a parking lot.
The shooting location is near the Landmark Resort.
Police took one person into custody immediately after the shooting. Myrtle Beach police say they charged Kemain Masonte Reese, of Greenwood, with murder, unlawful carry of a weapon and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call 843-918-1382.
Mayor Brenda Bethune provided a statement after being contacted by The Sun News and called the fatal shooting gang-related.
“We will work with our counterparts across the State to address these issues and we will take swift and immediate action to protect us from these evil acts,” Bethune said. “There is nothing the police could have done to predict or prevent these acts. These thugs have no regard for human life and no fear of law enforcement.”
The shooting is the third along Ocean Boulevard in a little over a week. The shootings happened during the first two weekends when hotels could take new reservations after being closed for weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, officers went to Ocean Boulevard near 12th Avenue North for a shooting that left four injured. Police took six people into custody in connection to that incident. All of the victims in that shooting are expected to recover.
Bethune condemned that shooting and wrote on Facebook, “The actions of a few miscreants have ruined the vacations of others and have tarnished our family-friendly atmosphere.”
“Their violent behavior has left our residents, our businesses, and our visitors fearful and angry. I understand and share those feelings,” she continued. “We will not tolerate violence and we are resolved to end this unlawful behavior. If you cannot come here and respect our laws and our community, then stay home or go to jail.”
Around 7:15 p.m. on May 17, officers went to Ocean Boulevard near 11th Avenue North for a shooting. Investigators say in that incident, rival gangs from Chesterfield County brought their dispute to Myrtle Beach and it ended when two groups fired across the street at each other.
Several people were hurt, including two people who were shot. The shooting victims were released from the hospital a day after the incident.
Police charged eight people in connection to that shooting.
The May 17 shooting - coupled with other incidents including a viral video showing people blocking and dancing in the street- led to outrage from city and police officials. Myrtle Beach police vowed to have a large presence on Ocean Boulevard for the holiday weekend.
“We hope there are no problems this weekend, as I’ve mentioned before, we cannot control what people come here to do,” Bethune said at a press conference in the middle of last week. “But if you come to Myrtle Beach with the mindset you want to cause problems and you want to come here and disobey the law, you will get caught.”
This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 11:24 AM.
