Breaking: Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Mass Shooting—Multiple Victims, Suspect at Large, Live Updates

Dateline: Myrtle Beach, S.C.—A holiday weekend turned chaotic late Sunday when rapid gunfire erupted in the Little River community just north of Myrtle Beach, injuring at least eleven people and triggering a massive emergency response, according to Horry County Police and local hospitals. Witnesses say crowds had gathered along Watson Avenue in Little River as Memorial Day festivities associated with the Atlantic Beach Bikefest—popularly known as Black Bike Week—were winding down. Multiple shots rang out around 9:30 p.m., sending hundreds scrambling for cover across the Intracoastal Waterway bridge and into neighboring businesses. Key details at a glance • Number of victims: Eleven transported with gunshot wounds or related injuries; several remain in critical condition. • Suspect status: No arrests announced; detectives believe more than one shooter may be involved, based on shell casings recovered on opposite sides of the street. • Location: Residential stretch of Watson Ave., roughly 18 miles north of central Myrtle Beach and minutes from the tourist‐packed Grand Strand. • Time: 9:30 p.m. Sunday, May 25, near the close of Memorial Day weekend events. What police are saying Horry County Police spokesperson Mikayla Singleton confirmed investigators have seized video from doorbell cameras and nearby businesses. “We are reviewing surveillance, witness cell-phone footage, and ballistic evidence to identify every individual who discharged a weapon,” she said during a 10 a.m. Monday briefing. Officers have appealed to visitors who posted livestreams or uploaded clips to social media to submit originals before altering or deleting them. Hospitals enact mass-casualty protocols Grand Strand Regional Medical Center entered disaster mode about 10 p.m. as ambulances, private vehicles, and rideshares delivered victims with gunshot wounds to the torso, legs, and arms. A trauma surgeon at the facility confirmed that at least three people underwent emergency surgery overnight. McLeod Seacoast Hospital in North Myrtle Beach also treated overflow patients. Doctors stressed that the final injury tally could rise as “walk-ins” continue to appear hours after the shooting. Community reaction Local clergy groups scheduled a candlelight vigil for 7 p.m. Monday at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. “Our city depends on tourism; senseless violence threatens everyone’s livelihood,” said Pastor Anthony Gray of Kingdom Life Fellowship. Business owners along Highway 17 echoed the sentiment, fearing cancellations as the peak summer season begins. Context: bike rally history Black Bike Week routinely draws tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to the Grand Strand each Memorial Day. While the majority of past gatherings have been peaceful, sporadic gun violence has marred several previous editions—and prompted extra law-enforcement deployments. This year more than 300 officers from Horry County, Myrtle Beach, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol were on duty, but investigators say the shooting unfolded just outside the primary patrol zone. Expert insight James Densmore, a criminology professor at Coastal Carolina University, notes that holiday weekends in tourist corridors present “a volatile mix of large crowds, alcohol, and in many states, lax firearm regulations.” Densmore argues that South Carolina’s recent permitless carry law—allowing most adults to carry handguns without training—may complicate crowd-control efforts. What’s next • Investigators will release suspect descriptions once forensics links shell casings to specific firearms. • Horry County Council has scheduled an emergency session Tuesday to review crowd-management ordinances. • Victim support: The Red Cross and local nonprofit Help 4 SC have opened hotlines for counseling and travel assistance for relatives. Anyone with information, video, or photos is urged to call the Horry County tip line at 843-915-8477. This is a developing story; updates will be published as new details emerge.