Beaufort residents concerned with safety, ask for changes after shootings at popular shopping plaza

BEAUFORT, S.C. (WTOC) - Residents in Beaufort say they are scared after three shootings happened in the span of a week.

The first two shooting incidents took place on Monday, September 22, when police responded to reports of shots being fired at the Cross Creek Shopping Plaza in Beaufort at different times of the night.

In total, two people were arrested, and luckily, no one was injured.

The third shooting happened in the same parking lot on Monday, September 29, but it resulted in a death.

When police arrived, they found Christopher Burton suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Beaufort Memorial, where he later died.

In that case, police are still investigating and searching for the shooter.

“It’s scary,” Beaufort resident, Betty Landon said.

Residents we spoke with say that these events make it harder to shop at some of their favorite places.

“It just makes everybody uncomfortable,” Beaufort resident, Jonas Green said.

Green says that people have the right to be scared because the shootings are taking place in a popular shopping area, and someone could easily get hit by a stray bullet.

“That could have been you or me just walking, doing what we normally do, and we could have gotten hit by a stray bullet.”

Both feel that Beaufort County and the City of Beaufort are not dangerous places, but say there are definitely some things that could be done to make them safer.

“Maybe some more police patrols around the place,” Landon said.

And that some of the first steps to combat the violence may start in the classroom or at home with the younger generation.

“Just document more activity with young people, especially in schools. Sometimes we take lightly what they are doing and take lightly what they say, but that could be a sign that something else can happen,” Green said. “Parents should talk more with their children, parents should be aware of their children, and they should know where their children are at all times.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Lieutenant Mendicino at 843-322-7911.

For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be reported to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app, online at www.TIPSBFT.com, or by calling 1-844-TIPSBFT (1-844-847-7238).