BEAUFORT, S.C. (Dispatches) -- A series of devastating shootings across South Carolina and Mississippi over the weekend has left at least 14 people dead and dozens more injured, underscoring the escalating violence and insecurity gripping parts of the United States.
In Beaufort, South Carolina, a mass shooting at a crowded bar on St. Helena Island killed four people and injured at least 20 others early Sunday, officials said. The attack occurred at Willie’s Bar and Grill during a busy time, with sheriff’s deputies arriving to find multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Four injured individuals were reported to be in critical condition.
“Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gunshots,” said the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office in a statement on social media platform X. Authorities urged the public for patience as investigations continue into the tragic incident, expressing condolences for the victims and their families.
In Mississippi, violent scenes unfolded on opposite ends of the state Friday night after high school homecoming celebrations, resulting in at least ten fatalities and numerous injuries. 
In Leland, a small town in the Mississippi Delta, six people died — four at the scene and two later at the hospital — following gunfire in the downtown area after a high school football game. About 20 others were wounded, with four in critical condition and airlifted to a larger medical center in Jackson.
State Sen. Derrick Simmons described the scene as chaotic, with law enforcement and emergency responders rushing to control the aftermath of what he called “senseless gun violence.” 
“People were just congregating and having a good time in the downtown of Leland,” Simmons said. “What we are experiencing now is just a proliferation of guns being in circulation.”
Witnesses described horrifying scenes, including people bleeding and lying lifeless on the ground. “It was the most horrific scene I’d ever seen,” said Camish Hopkins, who attended a community meeting at City Hall following the shootings. 
“No one was trying to really help. Leland failed Leland yesterday, but I know that we can do better because this isn’t Leland.”
Meanwhile, on the eastern side of Mississippi, a separate shooting at Heidelberg — a small town of about 640 residents — left two people dead on a school campus during homecoming festivities. 
Authorities are actively investigating, with an 18-year-old man sought for questioning in connection to the incident. Police have not released details on the victims’ identities or whether they were students.
Further complicating the state’s crisis, Sharkey County Sheriff Herbert Ceaser Sr. announced a third shooting investigation linked to a high school football game in the Mississippi Delta region. Two individuals have been arrested, though details about injuries have not been disclosed.
The violence has deeply shaken these communities, prompting officials to call for calm and justice. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves promised that those responsible would be held accountable.
“These tragic events highlight an ongoing struggle with gun violence and insecurity in parts of the United States,” Reeves said.  
The recent outbreaks of violence have once again spotlighted concerns over the proliferation of firearms and the challenges law enforcement faces in preventing such attacks, particularly in small towns where community ties are strong but resources may be limited.
As investigations continue, residents grapple with the trauma and fear unleashed by these incidents, raising urgent questions about public safety and the need for stronger measures to curb gun-related violence nationwide.