The Horry County deputy coroner identified Jerrius Davis, an 18-year-old from Bennettsville, as the person shot in an officer-involved mass shooting in South Caroline tourist town of Myrtle Beach. The incident left 11 people injured, while the police fatally shot a person, according to AP News.
The person in question is reportedly Jerrius Davis, whom an officer shot “based on the immediate threat.” The 18-year-old suspect died from the injuries. “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,” Horry County Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard told WBTW. “Last night could have been so much worse.”
About the new instance of US mass shooting
While the investigation is ongoing and little is known about the active US shooting case, the authorities said that the 11 people with injuries were receiving treatment. Prior to the Sunday identification, officers “observed a disturbance involving multiple individuals” on North Ocean Boulevard, a statement said. Someone fired a weapon during an “altercation,” which ultimately led an officer to respond with fire. The officers who got entangled in the incident did not suffer any injuries.
“In accordance with established protocol, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) will conduct an independent investigation,” Myrtle Beach Police said on Facebook. “Simultaneously, the Myrtle Beach Police Department will carry out an internal review of the incident.” The Facebook statement further confirmed that the individual shot during officer response had died after succumbing to their injuries.
The mass shooting incident occurred at the start of the tourism season. According to the Independent, Councilman Gregg Smith said, “It’s very unfortunate that people feel they need to solve their problems with guns, but it’s an isolated incident and not indicative of the reality that most Myrtle Beach visitors encounter.”
More details about the Myrtle Beach shooting suspect and the ongoing investigation have yet to be revealed.