A community in St. Helena Island, S.C. is grieving after a tragic mass shooting that claimed four lives and injured twenty others at Willie’s Bar and Grill early Sunday morning.
Officials today released the names of the four people who were killed in that shooting.
The victims who lost their lives were identified as 22-year-old Kashawn Glaze, 33-year-old Chiraad Smalls, 22-year-old A’shan’tek Milledge, and 54-year-old Amos Gary, all of whom succumbed to gunshot wounds at the scene.
spoke with Amos’ family who says he’s better known to them and others as Junior.
Junior’s family is struggling to find the right words to express their grief, but his brother, Johnny Williams, managed to speak about Junior’s character on Monday. Junior was remembered as a devoted brother, caring father, a protector, and so much more.
Williams said those qualities were evident even in his brother’s final moments when gunshots rang outside of the bar.
“Eyewitnesses who were present at the scene reached out to our family, sharing that in his final moments, my brother was trying to help others by shielding them from the gunfire,” Williams recounted with a heavy heart, becoming emotional as he remembered his brother’s bravery. “In that moment, my brother became a hero. He tried to save lives, and he didn’t deserve what happened. No one did.”
Junior was killed Sunday morning while performing his duties as a security guard outside Willie’s Bar and Grill, a role he recently took on due to his large stature which suited the job.
But Williams said his brother wasn’t just playing a part. He truly was a protector until the end.
That protective nature comes from being a family man, which is what his loved ones said he was.
“He was always the life of the party, ready with a joke that never failed to make us laugh,” recalled Williams, attempting to smile through his sorrow. “His impersonation of Bernie Mac was spot-on. But I won’t hear it again anymore.”
Williams said Junior was also always there, even though Williams lives in Atlanta.
He said he spoke to his brother on Friday about plans to get their kids all together and attend St. Helena’s annual heritage event coming up.
Williams said Junior woke the family up every day with words of encouragement.
“We talk all the time,” said Williams. “Funny thing is, every morning he sends a prayer out to his family members and Sunday morning, I didn’t get a prayer. I didn’t get a prayer on Monday. So, I’m not going to get a prayer no more for him.”
Williams got emotional when ending each happy sentence with ‘no more.’ He realized once again his brother was gone forever.
He said his family now wants justice and they’re done ‘hoping’ for answers.
“There’s no hope in this situation. So many people’s lives were affected. Too many people’s lives were lost. We need to know who did this, why they did this and what could have changed to prevent this in the future,” said Williams.
The family said they have been speaking with investigators frequently but they are currently at a place with no new information or answers.
spoke with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office who said they’re looking into persons of interest and will update the public as more information comes in.
There are no new updates at this time.
