A South Carolina beach partially filled with high school students participating in a “senior jump day” descended into chaos Friday afternoon as gunfire wounded at least five beachgoers.
Local police initially reported that six swimmers were injured; four days after the incident, they said only five were injured.
Isle of Palms Police Chief Kevin Cornett said most of the injured were teenagers, although an older swimmer was also injured. Police were already on the beach responding to two fights when the shooting began around 5:20 Friday afternoon, according to Cornett.
“A large crowd of individuals who were apparently part of a senior day group had gathered on the beach,” Cornett said at a news conference Friday evening. “There were a couple of altercations and during one of those altercations several shots were fired.”
Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting, officials said Saturday. Shawn Alexander Goods-Martin, 18, has been charged with possession of a firearm in a municipal parking lot, while an unnamed 16-year-old faces charges of possession of a stolen firearm and illegal door, officials said.
Both were arrested after the incident on suspicion of being in possession of weapons, but at this time police cannot confirm they are suspects in the shooting, officials told ABC News Saturday morning.
Beachgoers run from the scene of a shooting in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
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Police had several suspects in custody Friday evening, though Cornett said at the time he did not know if they had the shooter in custody. Law enforcement also recovered several firearms from the beach, which was closed after the incident.
“We have weapons recovered, but we can’t say they were the weapons involved in the incident,” Cornett said.
Video from the scene of the shooting showed hundreds of swimmers running from the area amid a cacophony of screams and police sirens.
Some of the victims were taken by ambulance to an area hospital, although authorities confirmed that many others drove themselves. One of the victims remains hospitalized in stable condition, while the other four have since been released, authorities said Saturday.
The shooting prompted a massive response from local, state and federal agencies, according to Cornett.
Cornett said his department had preemptively increased the number of officers on duty in anticipation of increased spring break beach activity, as seniors participating in the tradition of “day of jumping” were taken on the Friday off before spring break en masse.
Officers were already on the scene responding to an outbreak of multiple fights when the shooting began, Cornett said.
Police Chief Kevin Cornett speaks about a shooting on the beach at a news conference in Isle of Palms, SC on April 8, 2023.
WCIV
“It’s heartbreaking to hear about this senseless act of violence, especially so close to home,” South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said of the incident online.
With a population of approximately 4,000, Isle of Palms is a coastal city located on a barrier island in Charleston County.
“This should have been a joyous occasion for high school students on Senior Skip Day,” said South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace. “Unbelievably sad, and just awful.”
ABC News’ Jianna Cousin contributed to this report.
