St. Helena Island, SC – Authorities have charged a 27-year-old man with murder in connection with a mass shooting that left four people dead and 15 others injured during a crowded reunion event last month at a bar on a South Carolina island. The arrest comes weeks after investigators gathered ballistic evidence, witness statements and video footage tying the suspect to the deadly attack.
Suspect Already in Custody Before Murder Charges Were Filed
The suspect, Anferny Freeman, was already being held in jail on an unrelated charge of possessing a machine gun when investigators served him with arrest warrants on Friday. According to Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner, Freeman now faces four counts of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Online jail records confirm the charges, and authorities say a judge has denied Freeman bond on the murder counts. Court documents do not currently list an attorney representing him.
A Violent Outburst During a School Reunion Event
The shooting erupted in the early morning hours of October 12, during a 25th high school reunion for alumni of Battery Creek High School. Approximately 350 people were attending the event at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island when gunfire tore through the crowd.
The Beaufort County Coroner identified the four people killed as:
- 22-year-old Kashawn Glaze (Beaufort, SC)
- 33-year-old Chiraad Smalls (Beaufort, SC)
- 22-year-old A’shan’tek Milledge (Burton, SC)
- 54-year-old Amos Gary (St. Helena, SC)
All four victims died from gunshot wounds.
Sheriff: Multiple Shooters May Have Been Involved
Sheriff Tanner said Freeman and another man—who ultimately died during the shooting—had an encounter that “was not very friendly” before both began shooting. Freeman was struck in the stomach and later taken to a hospital.
Investigators now believe a third shooter was also firing during the chaos, based on bullet patterns, shell casings, video evidence and witness interviews.
“I expect more charges to be made. We have not forgotten about the other 15 victims,”
— Sheriff P.J. Tanner
Several of the 15 injured victims suffered gunshot wounds, and deputies say more arrests are likely as the investigation continues.
Witness Cooperation Took Time
In the days after the shooting, Sheriff Tanner expressed frustration that many attendees initially refused to identify the shooter or provide helpful information. On Friday, he confirmed that investigators eventually obtained witness cooperation, allowing them to move ahead with murder charges.
The sheriff declined to reveal key details such as:
- Who fired first
- What weapons were used
- How Freeman obtained his gun
- How many more suspects might face charges
“How all that happened is for a courtroom and not here,” Tanner said.
Bar Owner and Community Shocked
Willie’s Bar and Grill, which serves Gullah-inspired cuisine, is described on its website as a community-focused business. Owner Willie Turral previously said he never imagined experiencing an incident of this scale.
St. Helena Island has a population deeply rooted in Gullah heritage, with an estimated 5,000 residents tracing their ancestry to enslaved West Africans who lived on the island before the Civil War.
Someone associated with the bar questioned Sheriff Tanner during Friday’s news conference, asking why the sheriff was attempting to have the establishment declared a public nuisance.
Tanner responded that deputies have been dispatched to the bar hundreds of times, and he believes the business poses ongoing risks to public safety.
“The bottom line is we are going to put you out of business,” the sheriff said.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities continue to review ballistic evidence, interview witnesses and examine digital records to identify all individuals involved in the shooting. Sheriff Tanner reiterated that more arrests are expected, as investigators work to bring accountability for the 15 surviving victims and the four lives lost.
