Weekend shootings in the Carolinas claim 2 lives, injure 17
Two firearm-related incidents over the weekend shocked both North and South Carolina. As a result, two people have died, and 17 others were injured.
What do you need to know?
- Where did the shootings occur? One incident happened in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the other at the Elizabeth City State University campus in North Carolina.
- How many people were affected? Overall, there were two fatalities and a total of 17 injuries from both incidents.
- By April 2025, there have already been 91 mass shootings recorded in the USA.
The shooting on Sunday took place at Elizabeth City State University, a historically African American state college, following Yard Fest—the final event of the week-long Viking Fest celebration. This is an annual event celebrating culture, history, and entertainment with Nordic roots.
At the scene of the incident, a 24-year-old man, who was not a student, was pronounced dead. His identity remains undisclosed. Four people, including three students, sustained gunshot wounds, and two additional students were injured in the chaos. All the injured were taken to hospital.
University authorities, cited by NBC News, expressed deep sorrow over the senseless act. In response to the incident, the number of patrols on campus has been increased.
Shooting in Myrtle Beach
Meanwhile, late on Saturday evening in the popular tourist destination of Myrtle Beach, there was a shooting that resulted in one death and 11 injuries. The incident followed a dispute, which erupted just before midnight.
Faced with an imminent threat, a police officer shot an 18-year-old suspect, who died. Eleven other people were injured and received medical attention.
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune praised the prompt response of the officer. "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," Bethune said, as quoted by Fox News.
According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, by April 2025, there have been 91 mass shootings recorded in the USA, in which 119 people have died, and 337 have been injured. The organisation defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people, excluding the perpetrator, are injured or killed.
