In the early morning hours of October 12, 2025, a burst of gunfire shattered the lively atmosphere at Willie's Bar and Grill on Saint Helena Island, South Carolina, leaving a scene of chaos and tragedy. Kashawn Glaze, a 22-year-old male from Beaufort, was among the four individuals who lost their lives in the mass shooting that also left at least 20 people injured. The incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. at the establishment located on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Drive, where a large crowd had gathered for a high school alumni event.
The Beaufort County Coroner's Office pronounced Glaze and three other victims dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. The other deceased were identified as Chiraad Smalls, 33, A'shan'tek Milledge, 22, and Amos Gary, 54. Chiraad Smalls was a family member of Kashawn Glaze. Many of the wounded were transported to area hospitals by emergency services, while others sought medical attention on their own.
The investigation into the deadly shooting led authorities to identify persons of interest. On November 14, 2025, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of 27-year-old Anferny Devon Freeman, who was charged with four counts of murder in connection with the shooting. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Freeman and Kashawn Glaze. Authorities stated that both Freeman and Glaze, along with a third unidentified suspect, opened fire during the altercation. Freeman himself sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach during the exchange. At the time of his arrest for the murders, Freeman was already in jail on an unrelated charge.
