Shooting on Ocean Boulevard sends one to hospital

Police responded to a shooting early Sunday morning at the Holiday Sands North Hotel on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach.

Officers were called to a report of shots fired around 1:30 a.m. and could be seen swarming the Wayfarer Hotel, which is across the street. Witnesses in the area said they heard three to five shots fired.

One person with unknown injuries was transported to the hospital, but police had no more information at the time.

"I was in the hotel room and I just heard it," said Ryan Reid, referencing the shots fired. "I heard the lady say that somebody got shot over there so we came outside to see what was going on and to move our bikes."

Reid's bike was parked along with several others under the awning of the Holiday Sands North tower where, he said, one victim was down when officers arrived.

Officers quickly swarmed the area around the Wayfarer and Holiday Sands, pushing a growing crowd back and asking people on the scene to go inside.

"They were trying to get some of the bikes moved so they could bring some stuff in and we were just trying to help them move the bikes and stuff so they could get through," Reid said.

Several witnesses reported hearing the gunshots and fleeing the scene.

Lt. Joey Crosby of the Myrtle Beach Police Department said he did not know the gender of the victim. But witnesses identified the victim as a man.

"He was shot. He's laying on the ground over there," Reid said, pointing to an area under the awning next door.

A portion of Ocean Boulevard was closed as police investigated the scene. The strip was reopened at3:30 a.m.

Check back for more on this story as it becomes available.

This story was originally published May 29, 2016 at 2:39 AM with the headline "Shooting on Ocean Boulevard sends one to hospital."