Gun crimes on Ocean Boulevard spark concerns ahead of Carolina Country Music Fest in Myrtle Beach
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Myrtle Beach residents and visitors have mixed feelings about their safety heading into the Carolina Country Music Festival after recent gun violence on Ocean Boulevard.
The latest incident happened Saturday afternoon and left one person with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, Myrtle Beach police said. Terrell Moore, 44, of Myrtle Beach, was arrested Sunday in connection with the shooting, which happened in the area of 14th Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard.
Myrtle Beach road closures announced ahead of Carolina Country Music Fest
Moore was being charged with one count of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime and booked in the Myrtle Beach Jail on a $105,000 surety bond, according to online jail records.
CCMF officials said more than 30,000 people attended the festival each night in 2024. However, this year, with recent gun violence in Myrtle Beach, some people are changing their plans.
'My son came last year and went with his wife,' resident Larry Paige said. 'This year, they sold their tickets. In fact, they sold them about a week ago. I think it was more about the crimes and the shooting. We shouldn't be dealing with that.'
Saturday's Ocean Boulevard shooting is the third gun-related crime in the city of Myrtle Beach in a little more than a month. Two people were charged on May 22 after shooting at officers and crashing a stolen vehicle, police said. Officers chased them along Highway 17 Bypass.
On April 26, police said Officer Brandon O'Rourke shot and killed 18-year-old Jerrius Davis of Bennettsville after Davis shot into a crowd on Ocean Boulevard. At least 11 people were injured.
News13 spoke to another resident who said the recent crimes should not keep people from going to CCMF.
'My son's going,' Kelly Hubbard said. 'He went last year. It's the same as usual.'
Another Myrtle Beach visitor said if he had tickets to the festival, he would think twice about going because of the gun-related incidents. However, he said those crimes will not stop him from visiting the city.
'We come here every year, around this week,' Joe DeMarco said. 'We've never had a problem, never felt unsafe. Unfortunately, I think these things kind of go on everywhere.'
Hubbard said the city and Ocean Boulevard are safe, but people should be mindful of how late they are staying out.
'If you're coming late at night, in the hours that you wouldn't go anywhere, you're not going to feel safe,' she said. 'It depends on what you're doing. Just use your own judgment.'
News13 reached out to Myrtle Beach police for a report on Saturday's shooting and to CCMF officials for a statement, but we have not heard back from either.
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Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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