Eleven people were injured and a suspect wielding a weapon was shot dead by police in the South Carolina tourist town of Myrtle Beach late Saturday, authorities said.
The incident unfolded around 11:50 p.m. Saturday, when officers “observed a disturbance involving multiple individuals,” the Myrtle Beach Police Department said in a statement.
“During the altercation, one individual began firing a weapon,” police said. “At that time, based on the immediate threat, one of our officers responded by discharging their firearm.”
That bullet hit Jerrius Davis, 18, of Bennettsville, Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard told WBTW-TV. He later died of his injuries. The officer was not injured. Police did not specify whether all the injuries were gunshot wounds.
A witness, Michael Howard, described hearing “shots just start going off everywhere,” he told WPDE-TV. He saw an injured woman and the wounded gunman fall, with “blood everywhere,” he said of the “very traumatizing” incident. People scattered as police rushed to the scene, WBTW reported, citing video.
“Our officer saw what happened, and when he saw that an altercation was taking place and a gun was being shot, the officer responded very quickly and, in my opinion, saved lives,” Willard told WBTW Sunday morning. “Last night could have been so much worse.”
A portion of North Ocean Boulevard was closed down until about 2 p.m. Sunday as authorities investigated.
The State Law Enforcement Division is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting, police said. In addition, the Myrtle Beach Police Department will carry out its own internal review, authorities said.
SLED confirmed its participation to WMBF-TV on Sunday morning and did not issue further comment.
“The Myrtle Beach Police Department offers its prayers and deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this incident,” the department said. “We appreciate the public’s patience as both investigations proceed, and all leads are thoroughly examined.”
With News Wire Services
