A holiday weekend celebration turned violent Sunday night when a fight erupted aboard a private boat and led to a mass shooting at a dock in Little River, South Carolina. Authorities confirmed that 10 people sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, which remains under investigation.
According to a statement from the Horry County Police Department, the shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. after a party cruise returned to a dock in Little River, a coastal community located approximately 20 miles northeast of Myrtle Beach. No fatalities have been reported, but several of the injured victims are in critical condition.
One additional person was hospitalized for injuries unrelated to gunfire, police said.
The altercation began shortly after the boat — which had been hosting a three-hour party featuring a live DJ — returned to the dock. Investigators are working to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the violence.
A promotional flyer posted online advertised the Sunday night event, with the cruise scheduled to end at 9 p.m. A woman who answered a phone number listed on the flyer said she was deeply shaken by the shooting and witnessing her friends get hurt but declined further comment.
A representative for the boat charter company also declined to speak with reporters.
As of Monday morning, no arrests had been made, and authorities have not released any information about potential suspects or motives.
Randy Evans, a local resident, told The Post and Courier that his 25-year-old son was among those shot. Evans said his son was struck in the ankle and toe but managed to fashion a makeshift tourniquet from his bathing suit to assist others who were more severely wounded.
“The surgery was better than they expected,” Evans said. “He’s going to be OK.”
In a separate incident related to the emergency response, a North Myrtle Beach police officer accidentally shot himself in the leg while responding to the scene. The accidental discharge occurred at a marina approximately three miles from the site of the initial shooting. The officer is currently in stable condition, according to North Myrtle Beach spokesperson Lauren Jessie.
Little River, a historic fishing village known for its marinas and charter cruises, draws tourists year-round for its dolphin tours, casino boat excursions, and deep-sea fishing trips.
The investigation into Sunday night’s shooting is ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Horry County Police.
