Henry McMaster will be in Myrtle Beach on Thursday to discuss law enforcement options with local officials after several shootings over past several days, including a shooting on Ocean Boulevard that left seven people injured, and was viewed by millions on Facebook Live. One incident caught on camera as a tourist broadcast a brawl turned shootout on Facebook Live.
Symmes says Thursday's meeting with SLED Chief Mark Keel and Myrtle Beach law enforcement officials will be private, but the governor will make himself available for questions from the media after the meeting concludes.
"Whatever it takes, we're going to do it all", McMaster told reporters after a roughly 45-minute meeting with Myrtle Beach officials and area law enforcement leaders.
Though the city saw spikes of violence on Easter weekend this year and took similar steps after shootings during the 2014 Memorial Day weekend, McMaster called the past week's shootings an "aberration".
Myrtle Beach Police say the shooting they responded to at Coastal Grand Mall Saturday was a drug deal gone bad.
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"This meeting is borne out of some concern (the governor) has over the rash of violence that's occurred over the past few days", Symmes confirms, adding that the meeting was set up "to ensure the safe, family-friendly environment of Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand is maintained". Keel will also attend the meeting. The reported victim is not cooperating with the investigation and has refused medical treatment, according to Lt. Joey Crosby with Myrtle Beach Police. During the Sunday morning shooting, 46 officers from inside and outside of the city were patrolling the waterfront area.
McMaster did not say whether law enforcement training in the state should be expanded or more fully funded, though he expressed confidence in local authorities.
"We need more money devoted to a lot of things, but we are, of course, we're managing scarcity", McMaster said.
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