A horrific mass shooting tore through the heart of St. Helena Island, South Carolina's largest Gullah community, claiming four lives and wounding at least 20 others in the early hours of Sunday. The violence unfolded at Willie's Bar and Grill, a beloved local spot packed with revelers celebrating a Battery Creek High School alumni event, transforming a night of joy into one of terror and tragedy.

Sheriff's deputies rushed to the scene on the idyllic island, about 10 miles from Beaufort, where they discovered multiple victims riddled with gunshot wounds. Bar owner Willie Turral, who was inside when the chaos began, recounted the harrowing moments: bursts of gunfire echoing outside, followed by waves of screaming, panic, and desperate flight. "It was scary from the inside," Turral told reporters, describing how patrons scrambled for safety, unsure of the nightmare unfolding. Many fled to neighboring businesses for cover as bullets flew.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office issued a somber statement on X, labeling the incident "tragic and difficult" and urging patience during the ongoing probe. Four of the injured remained in critical condition at local hospitals by Sunday afternoon, though officials withheld victim identities to respect families. The shooting has left the tight-knit community reeling, with no arrests announced yet.

Turral emphasized the bar's role as more than just a eatery—it's a cornerstone of Gullah culture, dishing up authentic dishes inspired by the island's enslaved ancestors who toiled on pre-Civil War rice plantations. Home to over 5,000 descendants of those freed laborers, St. Helena Island prides itself on preserving heritage through events like the recent "One Gullah Nation" art expo, blending storytelling, poetry, and local pride. "We're committed to giving back, especially to our youth," the bar's website proclaims.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace voiced her devastation on X, writing she was "COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN" by the Beaufort County bloodshed. As investigators piece together the motive behind the bursts of gunfire that shattered this serene coastal haven, the island mourns a profound loss, grappling with how such horror could invade their cultural lifeline.