Woman shot at St. Helena Island bar sues venue, property owners over deadly shooting

ST. HELENA, S.C. (WTOC) - A woman injured during the deadly October shooting at Willie’s Breakfast Bar and Grill has filed a lawsuit against the restaurant, its owners, and property owners, claiming they failed to provide adequate security despite knowing the venue had a history of violence.

Quinnetta Clark filed the lawsuit Dec. 22 in Beaufort County Court of Common Pleas against Willie Turral, who owns and operates Willie’s Breakfast Bar and Grill, the business entity Willie Turral Food Services LLC, property owners James and Bernice Wright, and alleged shooter Anferny Freeman.

The lawsuit stems from an Oct. 12 shooting at the restaurant located at 7 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Four people were killed and multiple others were injured when gunfire broke out at the crowded venue.

Clark was shot in the back during the incident and suffered injuries that continue to cause physical pain, mental anguish, and medical expenses, according to the lawsuit.

Claims against venue and property owners

The lawsuit alleges Willie’s Breakfast Bar and Grill had “a known history of violence and criminal activity” and that law enforcement frequently responded to the premises. Clark’s attorneys argue the defendants were on notice that the premises presented a “heightened and foreseeable risk of violent criminal activity.”

The lawsuit claims the restaurant and property owners failed to provide adequate security, properly train employees, perform crowd control, and warn patrons of the dangerous conditions.

“The shooting occurred within an environment created, controlled, and supervised by the Defendants, and resulted from conditions the Defendants knew or should have known posed a foreseeable risk of serious harm to patrons,” the lawsuit states.

Alcohol service allegations

Clark also alleges the restaurant violated South Carolina alcohol service laws by serving intoxicated patrons and allowing them to become intoxicated. The lawsuit claims the restaurant had a duty to protect patrons “from the consequences of its patrons’ intoxication.”

Freeman was identified by law enforcement as one of the assailants who instigated the altercation that led to the shooting, according to the lawsuit.

Clark is seeking compensatory damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, mental anguish, and permanent physical injury. She is also seeking punitive damages, claiming the defendants showed “willful misconduct” and “conscious indifference to consequences.”

The lawsuit was filed by attorneys Marshall L. Horton and Collin H. Davidson of Horton & Associates LLC in Bluffton. You can view the lawsuit in full for yourself below:

Willie Turral provided the following statement reading in part quote:

“This incident did not occur inside my business, nor during an event that I hosted, promoted, or controlled. The venue was rented to a third-party promoter, and the incident occurred entirely outside of the premises.

I am fully cooperating with the legal process and intend to defend myself through the courts, My focus right now is on accountability, truth, and ensuring that facts — not assumptions — guide the outcome of this matter."

Willie Turral, Willie's Bar and Grill

WTOC has reached out to Clark’s attorney for comment and have not heard back yet. We will continue to follow this lawusit and bring you updates as we gather more information.