Ryan Joseph Bukoskey, a 36-year-old White/Caucasian man from Moncks Corner, South Carolina, was killed during a shooting outside Bar 52 in the early morning hours of January 28, 2023. Although some databases list his death as January 27, contemporary reporting from the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office and Bukoskey’s obituary place his death on Saturday, January 28. Bukoskey was pronounced dead at the scene after gunfire erupted during a confrontation at the bar.
Berkeley County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Bar 52, located at 207 Davishill Lane in Moncks Corner, shortly before 1:00 a.m. When the first deputy arrived, three people suffering from gunshot wounds were found in the parking lot. Bukoskey died at the scene, while the two other victims, reported to be 18 and 46 years old, were transported to a hospital for treatment. One of the wounded men had been shot in the leg, while another shooting victim was found lying in the parking lot with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest.
According to accounts provided to investigators, the violence developed after two or three men inside the bar began causing problems. Witnesses and one of the surviving victims said the group was confronted and an effort was made to get them to leave. Bukoskey was reported to have confronted the men as they were being made to leave the establishment. The encounter spilled outside and developed into a physical fight. During the confrontation, one of the men allegedly produced a firearm and began shooting. When the gunfire stopped, Bukoskey and the two other men had been hit.
Witnesses told investigators that the people suspected of involvement fled the scene in a silver Ford F-150. The initial incident report did not publicly identify the suspected shooter or the other men involved in the confrontation. Authorities also did not disclose a clear motive beyond the dispute and fight that preceded the shooting. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and Berkeley County Coroner’s Office opened a homicide investigation, and investigators indicated that they were consulting with the solicitor’s office while determining whether criminal charges were warranted.
In early February 2023, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office said no arrests had been made. Officials stated that they had consulted, and expected to continue consulting, with the solicitor’s office regarding possible charges. The publicly available online reporting reviewed does not identify anyone as having subsequently been arrested or formally charged with Bukoskey’s killing, and no publicly reported trial or conviction connected to his death was located.
Bukoskey was born September 29, 1986, in North Tonawanda, New York, and graduated from Pine Valley Central School in 2004. He joined the United States Navy in 2008 and served until 2019. His obituary described his interests as including motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles and remembered him as someone willing to help others. He left behind his wife, Claire, his son, Sylis, his parents, Pete and Kathy Bukoskey, his sisters, and an extended circle of family and friends. His funeral was held February 4, 2023, in Summerville.
