Myrtle Beach police continue to investigate Ocean Blvd. assault at center of viral post
A New York couple says they were attacked along Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, and a social media post about the incident has gone viral.
Numerous people have commented on the post, saying they will no longer visit or expressing condolences for the incident.
Myrtle Beach police Cpl. Thomas Vest said Thursday that officers continue to investigate the assault and have not made any arrests in the case. Myrtle Beach police released photos of asked for the public’s help late Wednesday to identify people of interest in their investigation.
The incident
Amber Deil posted on Facebook that she and her loved ones were in Myrtle Beach for a vacation. It was going well until they were assaulted overnight and Colin - her boyfriend according to coworker’s social media posts- tried to defend her, she said, alleging that 11 black men jumped him and attacked.
Colin suffered a broken jaw in three places and had surgery, Deil wrote.
Deil said some bystanders recorded the incident, but no one stepped in to help. She also accused the police of refusing to release information.
“People need to know it is not safe here even though it is advertised as a safe family vacation spot,” she wrote in the Facebook post now shared over 20,000 times with more than 8,000 comments.
Deil confirmed to The Sun News the incident happened near 16th Avenue North, but did not return a request for a phone call to talk about the attack.
Myrtle Beach police responded to the alleged assault at 16th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a police report. A woman told police she saw a victim approach a car in the street and an argument turned into a fight, the report states. The fight involved two victims and several other people.
The victims are not named in the police report.
The witness said the suspects were black men, and possibly a black woman, according to the report.
Several police officers responded to the scene and immediately started searching for the vehicle, according to police radio traffic. Officers stopped one car, but let the people inside go after learning they were not the alleged attackers.
The report states the two victims had “manifestation of minor injury,” and officers called for EMS. One of the victims told police he was jumped for no reason.
Officers checked surveillance cameras and saw a victim approach the car in the street, but the attack happened outside of the camera’s view.
Police took one of the victims’ mothers to the scene and provided victim advocate paperwork to both victims, the report states. Officers took photos of the victim’s injuries and the victims chose to leave with the mom and not EMS, according to the report.
A total of 12 officers are listed in the police report assisting in the investigation.
Police investigate
Vest said officers continue to investigate the aggravated assault and no arrests have been made as of Thursday afternoon. He declined to release more details as the incident remains under investigation.
Myrtle Beach police asked for the public’s help identifying persons of interest in connection to the case and released photos of three cars in the area at the time of the assault. Anyone with information is asked to contact 843-918-1382 or by email at pdinfo@ciytofmyrtlebeach.com.
Late Thursday, the department released photos of persons of interest in the case and again asked anyone with information to contact police.
Latest Ocean Boulevard incident
The alleged assault is the latest in a string of high-profile crimes along Ocean Boulevard since early May. The incidents have led to more cries on social media that Myrtle Beach is no longer safe and some saying they will no longer visit.
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.
Eight people were charged in connection to that shooting.
Around 12:30 a.m. May 24, officers went to Ocean Boulevard near 12th Avenue North for a shooting that left four injured.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor Josh Holford said two bystanders were injured. Officers arrested six people in connection to that incident.
Shortly after midnight on Memorial Day, police went to South Ocean Boulevard near 15th Avenue South for a fatal shooting. The Horry County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Cadric Elmore Jr., of Greenwood, and classified his death as a homicide.
Kemain Masonte Reese, 22, of Greenwood, was charged with murder in connection to that shooting.
On June 7, officers went to 21st Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard for a reported shooting, according to an arrest warrant.
Investigators determined that Miles Daekwon Evans was the victim of a larceny, according to the warrant. The larceny incident was diffused, but Evans went looking for the suspect, the warrant state. When he found the person, Evans fired his handgun.
The warrant states the victim was shot.
Police charged Evans with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and other counts in connection to that shooting.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 2:48 PM.
