8 victims, 5 suspects charged in shooting on Coligny Beach on Saturday

HILTON HEAD, Sc. (WTOC) - Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said there were eight victims involved in Saturday’s shooting on Coligny Beach, some of them were just enjoying the 4th of July festivities when two groups started fighting nearby.

They all suffered what appear to be non-fatal gunshot wounds, including one person being shot in the neck, and received medical attention.

However, Tanner is not calling this a mass shooting.

Because of the weekend’s plans, law enforcement agencies were scattered throughout the island: The sheriff’s office, the Department of Natural Resources, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

He said they were able to respond to the 911 call about shots being fired on the beach in 17 seconds.

The investigation continues on Sunday night, but what he did share was that two groups of men and women, ranging in ages from 17 to 19, started fighting before gunshots rang out.

Beachgoers said there were at least a thousand people at Coligny Beach Saturday night. Joshua Moody, who was there that evening, said he left just before the shooting.

“I had a feeling that something was about to happen, so me and my friends just left and then not even ten minutes later I got that text,” Moody said.

They utilized a camera that was installed near the scene and were able to track down several suspects and the vehicles.

“The great thing about cameras is they work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they never ask for a day off and they never call in sick,” Tanner said. “We augment our force when we use this type of technology.”

As WTOC covered on Tuesday, June 30, as part of a safety plan, the BCSO safety plan involved installing and upgrading about 60 security cameras around the Coligny Beach area.

“This is in response to numerous complaints of late-night beachgoers who are loitering — underage drinking, drugs, and again, in possession of firearms,” Town of Hilton Head Island’s Director of Public Safety Bob Bromage said then.

Tanner said 13 criminal charges have been handed down to five suspects.

WTOC learned that four were arrested late Saturday and they are:

• Jayden Hawes, 18: Attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and aggravated breach of peace.
• Marcello Royal, 17: Attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, unlawful possession of a weapon, and aggravated breach of peace.
• Quazeir Davis, 17: Attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, unlawful possession of a weapon, and aggravated breach of peace.
• Christopher Capers, 17: Accessory after the fact.

Tanner said they recovered four weapons after detaining six people in a vehicle near a bridge on the island. One of them was found in the marshy area, another was found on the beach and determined to be a modified weapon.

Sheriff, mayor signal policy changes ahead

Tanner said the incident will shape how the department approaches policing going forward.

“We have to be more aggressive in how we police our community,” he said.

Town of Hilton Head Mayor Alan Perry joined the Sunday night press conference and said the shooting has been difficult to process.

“I’ve been sick to my stomach since last night. Thank god nobody was killed, that’s the fortunate thing. The unfortunate thing is that it happened, in our backyard,” Perry said.

He said the town will be holding a special council meeting soon to discuss public safety measures moving forward, that this incident does not define HHI or the Lowcountry.

“If you don’t think that this council is going to get together and figure it out, you’re mistaken,” he said.