Judge to rule on Willie’s Bar liquor license after mass shooting on St. Helena Island
Willie’s Bar and Grill was the scene of one of the deadliest mass shootings in the county’s history
COLUMBIA, Sc. (WTOC) - A judge is considering taking away the liquor license for Willie’s Bar and Grill.
The restaurant on St. Helena Island was the scene of a mass shooting last month that killed four people and left 15 people injured.
There is already a temporary suspension in place, but this is a move to make it permanent.
Over 450 calls of service over the last 10 years.
“Like gunshot wound, harassment, hit and run, intoxicated person, man down, miscellaneous calls, narcotics, property damage, and shots fired.”
That’s the amount of calls the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office have responded to at Willie’s Bar and Grill.
A place they consider to be a nuisance that they say is not secure with all the open space at the bar and is near major roads on the island.
“In your opinion, is the establishment handling the large crowds appropriately? No, Sir. Do you think this establishment is putting in any type precautions in place to handle these large crowds? No, sir.”
The bar’s owner, Willie Turral, was at the sheriff’s office last week asking about this suspension and told us that he would be in court to fight it, but instead his seat was empty.
He also said last week that he doesn’t want to be a scapegoat after the mass shooting and has even come up with ways to better the area.
“We are not going to leave the blood on the concrete, we have a plan, and we are going to work hard to tell a positive story about a resilient community that made changes and fought back,” said Turral.
However, the judge instead only heard from him over the phone and heard only from Department of Revenue in court, which also brought up that Willie’s has been operating without a Local Option Permit, which authorizes a business to serve past midnight.
“Through my investigation and research, I never saw an LOP for that establishment.”
The judge decided to take what he heard under advisement and is expected to make a ruling in the coming days.
He says while he decides, the temporary suspension will still be in place.
Turral told the judge over the phone that he accepts any ruling that he makes and will possibly appeal the decision when it is made.
Copyright 2025 WTOC. All rights reserved.
