Crime
U.S. Navy Sailor Shawon Shamarion Williams Arrested in Connection with Little River Mass Shooting
LITTLE RIVER, SC / LAKE COUNTY, IL — A U.S. Navy sailor has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting that occurred over Memorial Day weekend in Little River, South Carolina.
Authorities say 19-year-old Shawon Shamarion Williams was taken into custody in Lake County, Illinois, on Thursday, and is expected to face multiple charges stemming from the incident, which left at least 10 people injured.
According to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Williams, a Hull Maintenance Technician Seaman, was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago and assigned to the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command.
He was arrested Thursday afternoon and booked into the Lake County Jail as a fugitive of justice.
The shooting took place on the evening of Saturday, May 25, around 9:15 p.m., as guests disembarked from a private charter boat near Watson Avenue in Little River — a community near the South Carolina-North Carolina border.
The event was part of the “Rock Tha Boat Jackie-O & Friends Annual Birthday Boat Party,” hosted by Jacklyn Patrice Bellamy.
Authorities believe an argument among attendees escalated into gunfire shortly after the vessel docked.
Cellphone footage captured the chaotic moments as gunshots rang out, sending people fleeing in panic.
Witness Jeremy Evans, one of the ten victims, recounted the terrifying experience. “We got shot coming off the boat. I was on the pier when I got hit in the leg,” Evans said. “I had to take off my shorts and wrap them around the wound. It was a mass shooting. Ten of us got sprayed on that deck.”
South Carolina authorities have confirmed that Williams will face several counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Officials also stated that additional arrests could follow as the investigation progresses.
Cmdr. Jessica L. McNulty, a spokesperson for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, confirmed Williams’ military assignment and noted that custody has been transferred to local law enforcement in preparation for extradition proceedings.
Williams is expected to appear in court Friday morning in Illinois, where the formal extradition process to South Carolina will begin.
The Horry County Police Department, which is leading the investigation, emphasized that the shooting appears to have stemmed from a personal dispute during the private event.
The department is urging anyone with additional video footage or information about the incident to come forward as the investigation continues.
The shooting has sparked renewed concerns about gun violence and safety during large public gatherings, particularly during holiday weekends.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.