Posted on 05/27/2014 12:03:23 PM PDT by Gamecock
Several shootings on Memorial Day weekend have Grand Strand officials on damage control working to spread the word to visitors and residents that the area is safe.
Three people were killed and seven injured in five confirmed shootings over the weekend, but Myrtle Beach Police Capt. David Knipes said there were several more reports of shootings or sounds of gunshots that were unconfirmed.
The violence struck a nerve with Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President Brad Dean.
“Unfortunately, none of us are surprised, as the Memorial Day motorcycle rally continues to create unanswered challenges for the community and visitors,” he said. “Safety is a necessity for a tourism destination to thrive and no amount of publicity and promotion will counter the bad publicity generated this weekend.”
“The senseless acts of criminals and unruly visitors have once again marred what should have been a stellar weekend celebrating our armed forces and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America.” He said the Chamber is working with “promotional partners to do what little we can to counter the negative publicity and assure those visitors planning a trip to the Myrtle Beach area that our community values their safety.”
State Rep. Tracy Edge also issued a statement following the shootings saying the cities and law enforcement need to “take back the streets and make the Grand Strand safer for residents, business owners and visitors.”
Edge said additional law enforcement assistance should be used next year.
“While there were times when things appeared that police were fighting an uphill battle we never have seen the type of lawlessness and violence seen this weekend,” he said. “Therefore I pledge to area municipalities and area law enforcement agencies and I promise to the people in Horry County and along the Grand Strand that we will bring back hundreds of state officers next year, provided that we are asked by local authorities to do so.”
Not all believe the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day BikeFest crowds are to blame, and no connection has been made between any of the shootings and the rally. Atlantic Beach Town Manager William Booker said the shootings are tragic, but doesn’t think they were related to the town’s annual event.
“We had nothing of that magnitude,” he said. “We had no problems in Atlantic Beach. We had no arrests and we had very few citations ... From our perspective what happened in Myrtle Beach was totally unrelated.”
No arrests had been made as of Monday evening. Last year, Myrtle Beach had two homicides. To see three in one night was concerning, Knipes said.
“It’s a very high and alarming number,” he said.
Jamie Williams, 28, of Ladson, and Devonte Dantzler, 21, and Sandy Gaddis Barnwell, 22, both of Summerville, were pronounced dead by Horry County Deputy Coroner Darris Fowler on Saturday. Fowler said all three died from trauma to vital organs due to gunshot wounds sustained during a shooting at Bermuda Sands Resort on 1st Avenue North.
Officers responded at about 11 p.m. Saturday to a reported large fight outside the Bermuda Sands. Three shots were fired before police arrived, striking Keith Williams. As police were providing medical attention to Keith Williams, those involved in the fight moved to the second floor of Bermuda Sands, according to the release.
After about five minutes, officers said the shooter then went to the second floor of the hotel and fired several shots at Jamie Williams, Dantzler and Barnwell, who police say were involved in the fight.
Police believe the shooter fled the rear of the hotel.
Jamie Williams and Dantzler died immediately, and Barnwell and Keith Williams were taken to Grand Strand with gunshot wounds. Barnwell was pronounced dead at the hospital.
On Saturday, another person was injured in a shooting at 6th Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard, two were injured in a shooting at 8th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard and one was shot in the leg at the Fountain Bleu Motel at 7th Avenue North and Flagg Street.
On Sunday, two were injured in a shooting at the Wave Rider Resort at 1600 South Ocean Boulevard.
Knipes said every available officer was working this weekend. He said changes to enforcement in years ahead have not yet been discussed.
“It’s too early to tell,” he said Monday. “It’s not over. We haven’t looked at stats or sat down and discussed things. It’s not just a police issue, but a community issue that will have to be discussed over time.
“Most of the crowd is not on bikes,” Knipes said. “They could be here because of the BikeFest, but it’s hard to tell.”
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2014/05/26/3469158/weekend-of-violence-has-myrtle.html?sp=%2F99%2F205%2F&ihp=1#storylink=cpy
Concord, NC? You should visit the NC Forum and hang out. We talk about kids and pets and stuff, sometimes politics.
I’m in Union County. Freepmail me if you’d like to stop by some time for What’s With This Casserole Again? and adult beverages!
I do a fair bit of work there. Drive 74 quite a bit getting to points SE and east. Today was downtown Charlotte on the 20th floor of NASCAR. Heck of a view, nice folks.
I went to uptown Charlotte today to the BSA council offices. Traffic on 74 was ghastly, an accident in the middle of the construction on the east side.
We’ve been to the race track - I have a FRiend who’s a NASCAR fan - but not to the center city offices.
I'm sorry but you can't descriminate against any organization based on what you think may happen because it can go both ways..........
The only way to put an end to this annual gathering is for the business owners to just close up shop for the weekend. Yea, they'll lose revenues but maybe the message will be sent to the organizers that they're no longer welcome there...........
It was my first trip to Corporate. They had TV’s on every floor at the reception areas just showing old videos. Little stands with the die-cast models and trophys all over.
This building was in charge of everything.
I also go to FS1 (Speed)on WT Harris as they require our service as well.
I’ve never known any bad places in EI proper which is really sort of upscale now or even Indian Beach. Atlantic Beach down by the causeway into Morehead City, now that’s another matter. Party town, college students, a little rowdy. Other end of the island, fifteen miles away, though.
What fun! Do you do something automotive, or are you in some other field and just work for NASCAR like any other corporation?
Do the Christmas event. I had my Accord up high On turns 4 and 2 @ 10mph. Family members were going nuts thinking the car was going to flip.....LOL!!!! :^)
I remember when Atlantic Beach was pretty rough around the amusement area. Lots of military types in the 70’s when the military was just short of prison.
I’ll have to keep that in mind this year. Several children (from 23 to 16) are into cars and would really love some racing experience.
Who knows, by Christmas, my uncle may have shipped me my Dad’s old Mazda RX-7, the Silver Bullet.
#2 would be your answer. It is UPS maintenance. Not delivery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply
I had a 79 model that I gave to a friend in AZ. 4bbl and all.
The Christmas thing is lights and music. They let you on the track briefly.
The business of putting your car out to run it is entirely different.
I will have to do research! Thanks for the ideas.
Thank you. Yes, you can drive your POV on the track just as fast as it will go. Good Luck
Several children are into speed! Anoreth gets speeding tickets all over the U.S., sigh.
I have to give the city fathers a break here. What're they gonna do? If they cancel it, they'll be tarred as racists in the entire American press.
What's worse? Losing millions in damages, facing lawsuits over deaths, getting a reputation as an unsafe destination, and making the voters in your district feel unsafe? Or getting called names in the press?
Do not race that car.
I don’t think it’s really “racing,” just driving around the NASCAR track.
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