Woman sues St. Helena Island bar over mass shooting, alleges negligent security

by Stephanie Adkisson, Tomi Marcus

ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. (WTOC) - A woman who was shot at a St. Helena Island bar last fall is suing the establishment on multiple counts of negligence and wants compensation for her 10 plus injuries she claims she suffered after being one of the several dozen victims shot during the mass shooting back in October.

Sundeya Clark filed the lawsuit in Beaufort County Court of Common Pleas against Willie Turral Food Services LLC, which operated Willie’s Bar and Grill at 7 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on St. Helena Island.

According to the complaint, Clark was at Willie’s with friends on Oct. 11, 2025, when Anferny Freeman entered the premises with a firearm, consumed alcohol, and allegedly opened fire on patrons. Clark reported that she sustained serious and permanent injuries in the shooting.

This is the second lawsuit filed against the establishment related to the shooting.

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

According to the lawsuit, Clark was at Willie’s with friends when Anferny Freeman allegedly walked in with a gun, drank alcohol and opened fire on customers.

You can view the lawsuit in full for yourself below:

Main Claims Against the Bar

Serving Alcohol Illegally

The bar was licensed by South Carolina and required to follow all state laws about serving alcohol at the time of the shooting.

The lawsuit said Willie’s either served Freeman alcohol when he was already drunk or gave him too much alcohol. South Carolina law prohibits bars from serving intoxicated people.

The lawsuit also stated that despite Freeman appearing drunk, staff did not ask him to leave or make sure he wouldn’t hurt anyone, the complaint states.

Security Failures

The lawsuit claims Willie’s:

Let Freeman enter the bar with a gun
Did not have proper security staff
Failed to meet basic safety standards
Knew the bar had problems with violence before but did nothing
Did nothing to stop the shooting once it started

“The criminal attack against Clark was reasonably foreseeable to Willie’s,” the complaint stated, meaning the bar should have expected something like this could happen.

History of Violence

The lawsuit claimed Willie’s had been “put on notice” that its security was not good enough, suggesting there were previous violent incidents at the location.

What Clark Is Asking For

Clark wants a jury to decide how much money Willie’s should pay her for:

Permanent physical injuries
Permanent mental injuries
Scars and disfigurement
Medical bills (past and future)
Lost wages
Physical pain
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life

The lawsuit argues Willie’s had a responsibility that could not be passed on to anyone else to keep customers safe from known dangers.

Willie’s Bar and Grill owner, Willie Turral, released a statement in response to the allegations.

I am aware of the recently filed lawsuit and strongly dispute several of the allegations contained within it. In particular, any suggestion that I personally served or provided alcohol to the individual responsible for the shooting is demonstrably false. That individual was never served by me or by my staff.
The event in question was a privately promoted rental event. The venue was leased to independent promoters who organized, advertised, and managed entry for the event. Those individuals are in a better position to answer questions regarding attendance and guest control.
Out of respect for the ongoing legal proceedings and for those impacted by the tragic events of that evening, I will allow the court process to address the claims made.
I remain confident that the facts will ultimately be made clear through proper legal review.
Willie Turral, Willie's Bar and Grill owner, Willie's Turral Food Services LLC