Myrtle Beach Ocean Boulevard Shooting: Live Updates on Victims, Suspect, Road Closures & Safety Advisories

Updated: May 26, 2025 — 9:00 a.m. ET Memorial Day weekend on South Carolina’s Grand Strand turned chaotic after a late-night shooting on a crowded party boat docked along Watson Avenue in Little River, just 20 miles north of Myrtle Beach. Horry County Police confirm at least 11 people are hospitalized, with additional victims arriving by private vehicle. Investigators say the gunfire erupted around 10 p.m. Sunday while the Hurricane II tour boat was tied up near the Intracoastal Waterway. Key takeaways • Location: Watson Avenue marina, Little River — a popular nightlife spot minutes from North Myrtle Beach • Time: Approx. 10:00 p.m., Sunday, May 25, 2025 • Victims: 11 transported by Horry County Fire Rescue; others self-transported; conditions undisclosed • Officer injury: Responding North Myrtle Beach officer accidentally shot himself in the leg, listed as stable • Status: Incident deemed “isolated”; no suspects publicly identified; marina temporarily closed What witnesses saw Neighbors reported a barrage of sirens and flashing lights, describing “at least 50 officers” converging on the docks. Some thought initial pops were holiday fireworks until police evacuated the area. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” resident Charleen Rodgers told local media as investigators canvassed the waterway with patrol boats and drones. How the shooting unfolded Preliminary evidence suggests an argument aboard the privately chartered party vessel escalated when at least one person opened fire. Detectives spent the night processing the boat’s main deck and nearby parking lot, stringing crime-scene tape across the marina entrance. Officers recovered multiple shell casings; however, the caliber and number of weapons involved have not been released. Community impact The violence struck at the height of Bike Week and tourist season, when Myrtle Beach hotels are near capacity. Local businesses worry the headline-grabbing shootout could deter visitors, while longtime residents call for increased patrols along the Waterway nightlife corridor. Safety response • Extra beach-patrol units and K-9 teams deployed throughout Horry County • Temporary closure of Watson Avenue docks for forensic sweeps • Increased Memorial Day DUI and disorderly-conduct checkpoints along U.S. 17 Police plea for tips Horry County Police urge witnesses or anyone with cellphone video to contact the crime tip line at 843-915-TIPS. Anonymous information can also be submitted via the department’s mobile app. Detectives particularly want footage from 9:30 p.m.–10:15 p.m. showing the party boat’s upper deck or the adjacent parking lot. Why this matters Mass-casualty shootings aboard vessels are rare; Sunday’s attack is the largest in the Myrtle Beach area since the 2014 Atlantic Beach Bikefest incidents. Gun violence experts note that confined spaces like tour boats amplify injury potential because passengers have limited escape routes. What’s next • Autopsy and ballistic results expected within 72 hours • Victim updates from Grand Strand Regional Medical Center and McLeod Seacoast Hospital • Marina reopening contingent on structural inspections and security reviews Stay with us for real-time updates on the Myrtle Beach shooting investigation, suspect search, and community safety measures throughout Memorial Day week. Anyone traveling to the Grand Strand should monitor official Horry County alerts and plan alternate routes around Watson Avenue until the crime scene clears.