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.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Kan. — A 23-year-old man from Riverton has died following a shooting at a rural property in Cherokee County, Kansas, and his 19-year-old brother has been booked into jail on a second-degree murder allegation, according to information released by authorities.
The victim was identified as Gannon Reece, 23, of Riverton, Kansas. The suspect was identified as Joshua Wilson, 19, also of Riverton, who is the victim’s brother.
According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder. Formal charges are expected to be submitted to the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said the Cherokee County Emergency Communication Center received a 911 call on October 23, 2026, reporting that a person had been shot at 4971 SE 67th, in a rural area of Cherokee County.
Deputies were dispatched to the location to investigate the reported shooting.
When deputies arrived, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services personnel examined the victim and determined that he had died.
The suspect, who authorities later identified as Joshua Wilson, was still at the scene when deputies arrived. Officers immediately detained him as the investigation began.
Authorities subsequently identified the deceased man as Gannon Reece and confirmed that Wilson was his younger brother.
Wilson was booked into the Cherokee County Jail in connection with Reece’s death on suspicion of second-degree murder.
According to the information provided by authorities, formal charges will be submitted to the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office. The available information does not specify whether prosecutors have formally filed the charges in court or whether Wilson has appeared before a judge.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the circumstances that led to the shooting.
No details have been released about what preceded the incident, whether an argument occurred, or what may have motivated the shooting. Authorities have not provided information about a possible firearm recovery or any other evidence beyond the initial circumstances described in the report.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office.
Investigators are working to determine the full circumstances surrounding Reece’s death and gather evidence relevant to the case.
Authorities have stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Officials also announced a temporary road closure affecting SE Lostine between Highway 69A and SE 60th.
Motorists were advised to use alternate routes until further notice while the closure remained in effect. The information provided did not specify when the roadway would reopen.
Drivers traveling through the area were encouraged to follow local traffic instructions and allow additional time for their journeys.
The fatal shooting has resulted in the death of a young Riverton resident and the arrest of his 19-year-old brother.
While authorities have identified both men and disclosed the booking allegation, several details remain unknown, including the events leading up to the shooting and the formal status of the prosecution.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and Cherokee County Attorney’s Office are continuing to investigate.
Joshua Wilson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.