Shooting Erupts At Location of Boat Party in Little River, SC — 11 Transported To Hospital

Shooting Erupts At Location of Boat Party in Little River, SC — 11 Transported To Hospital

A night of celebration turned into chaos after gunfire reportedly broke out involving individuals at a boat party in Little River, South Carolina, Sunday night, sending at least 11 people to the hospital and multiple others reportedly injured.

The event, dubbed “Rock Tha Boat Jackie-O & Friends Annual Birthday Boat Party,” began around 4 p.m. and was set to return to dock by 9 p.m., according to sources close to the event and an event flyer. The Horry County Police Department posted on Facebook at 9:30 p.m. that officers were responding to Watson Avenue after receiving calls of an active shooting.

By 10:20 p.m., officials confirmed that 11 victims had been transported to area hospitals. Authorities also noted that more victims were arriving at local hospitals via personal vehicles, suggesting the total number of those injured may be higher.

The hooting occurred at a dock in Little River, following a Memorial Day weekend party aboard a private charter boat known as The Hurricane. The incident left 11 people injured—10 with gunshot wounds and one with a head injury from a falling speaker.

The shooting took place around 9:15 p.m., as passengers were disembarking from the boat, which had hosted a DJ party with approximately 120 attendees. According to reports, the altercation that led to the shooting began on the boat and escalated once docked at the marina along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Authorities say all victims are expected to recover, with three remaining hospitalized as of Tuesday morning.

Horry County Police Chief Kris Leonhardt stated that the shooting had ended by the time officers arrived. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, with some attendees fleeing into the water or nearby areas to escape the chaos.

A North Myrtle Beach police officer, who was responding to the incident, accidentally discharged his weapon, resulting in a leg injury. He is reported to be in stable condition.

Shooting in Little River, SC

Videos obtained by The North Carolina Beat show the aftermath of the shooting, with one disturbing clip capturing a man sprinting along a blood-covered dock while multiple people lay injured on the ground.

One partygoer, who goes by GMF Uptown Lo on Facebook, posted that he had been shot in the back during the incident, writing:

“Man I got shot in the back. I’m good tho, sht hurt tho.”

Videos from earlier in the day show the party in full swing with music, drinks, and dancing, highlighting the stark contrast between the day’s celebration and the night’s violence.

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On Thursday, May 29, authorities in Illinois arrested 19-year-old Shawon Shamarion Williams and charged him with the shooting.