Battery Creek High School Alumni Association organizers say event at separate location ended hours before tragedy

ST. HELENA ISLAND, SC. (WTOC) - We’re working to piece together the events leading up to Sunday morning’s tragic mass shooting at Willie’s Bar and Grill in Beaufort County.

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Tuesday, we spoke with members of the Battery Creek High School Alumni Association which hosted an event on Saturday.

SCHOOL DISTRICT: Beaufort County School District releases statement following mass shooting at St. Helena bar

Organizers say the event was held at a separate location and wrapped up hours before the shooting.

Dewayne Myers, an alumni association committee member, says they hosted a tailgating event in Yemasee that ended at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

The gathering at Willie’s Bar and Grill later that night wasn’t part of their event.

Many Battery Creek High School alumni were at the bar leading up to the shooting, including Shelia White. She stopped by to say hi to her friends and left before gunshots rang out.

White, who is also a member of the alumni association, says the shooting has been hard to process.

One of the victims, A’shan’tek Milledge, was her close friend and former classmate’s daughter.

“It hits close to home, you know. I had just saw the mother at the tailgating event. She was there celebrating with her class, having a good time, and less than six hours later, you know, she received a phone call that her daughter passed away. It’s very unfortunate, and it’s very sad,” said White.

The Battery Creek High School Alumni Association sends its condolences to the victims’ families.

SEE: Victims of St. Helena Island mass shooting identified

Myers says he’s heartbroken that gun violence has touched so close to home.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has released very few details on what happened early Sunday morning.

Officials say there is no threat to the public, but they’re still investigating persons of interest and have not announced any arrests.