NORTH CHICAGO, IL – Authorities have apprehended a 19-year-old U.S. Navy sailor in connection with a mass shooting that occurred over Memorial Day weekend in South Carolina. The suspect, identified as Shawn Marion Williams, was detained by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) at the Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois.
Williams, who faces charges of attempted murder, was arrested following an investigation that traced him to Lake County, Illinois. The arrest was executed by NCIS officers who booked him into the Lake County Jail. Williams is assigned as a hull maintenance technician seaman at the Navy’s largest training base, located in North Chicago.
The shooting incident unfolded in Little River, South Carolina, a community near the North Carolina border, where ten individuals were injured as they disembarked from a private charter boat. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as gunfire erupted following an argument on the pier.
One of the victims, Jeremy Evans, shared a video of his recovery, expressing relief at the arrest with a message of “justice for us all.” Evans recounted the harrowing moments when he was shot in the leg and had to use his shorts as a makeshift tourniquet.
Local police in South Carolina have indicated that the shooting stemmed from a verbal altercation that quickly escalated. The suspect allegedly fired shots while retreating from the scene. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests as the investigation continues.
Williams faces multiple counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He is currently held on a fugitive of justice charge and is scheduled to appear in court, where the process for his extradition back to South Carolina is anticipated to commence.
The swift action by NCIS and local law enforcement highlights the collaborative efforts to bring those responsible for the violence to justice. As the legal proceedings unfold, the community remains focused on healing and ensuring accountability for the traumatic events of that weekend.