Judge to rule on Willie’s Bar liquor license after mass shooting on St. Helena Island

COLUMBIA, Ga. (WTOC) - WTOC is in Columbia, South Carolina with the latest on the court’s decision and why they decided to take away the liquor license at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena.

The judge in the administrative law court in Columbia said that he will make a ruling on the liquor license for Willie’s in the coming days and that the temporary suspension in place will stay there until a decision is made.

Willie’s Bar and Grill was the scene of one of the deadliest mass shootings in the county’s history.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said the business has been a nuisance to the area amassing over 450 calls of service over 10 years.

That includes nearly 60 disturbance calls, and 10 shots fired calls.

They also say that the area is not secure with the amount of open space at the bar.

It’s near major roadways on the island, so it can cause traffic problems when first responders are called to the scene.

“In your opinion, is the establishment handling the large crowds appropriately? No, Sir. Do you think this establishment is putting in any type precautions in place to handle these large crowds? No, sir.”

Another thing we learned is that according to SLED, Willie’s was operating without a Local Option Permit, which means his business must stop serving alcohol at 11:59 p.m. on Saturdays and can’t resume until Monday morning.

But a lot of the calls deputies say they responded to were hours after they were supposed to stop serving.

“Are you aware of they ever attempted to get a LOP? Not that I know of. I did speak with Mr. Turral, he indicated that at some point there may have been one, but through my investigation and research I never saw an LOP for that establishment.”

Turral wasn’t in the courtroom in Columbia but told the judge over the phone that he will accept whatever decision he makes.

He also told the judge that he may file an appeal to the ruling.