MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) โ Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune spoke about the safety of the city following a shooting that left 11 injured and one dead Saturday.
“Last night was a very unfortunate event — and one that can happen anywhere,” Bethune said.
She said that while the shooting happened in Myrtle Beach on Saturday, it could have happened in any town of any size.
RELATED: Everything we know about the North Ocean Blvd. shooting: 11 injured, 1 dead “The positive is that our police were there. They actually saw the altercation begin and immediately responded within seconds,” Bethune added. “Our officers did an incredible job responding.” Bethune also responded to conversations online expressing fear of visiting Myrtle Beach and the boardwalk area. “First of all, if any of those people live in the city of Myrtle Beach, then shame on them,” Bethune said. “This is a safe place. We should all be lifting up our community.” She added that “even without a fully staffed police force,” the City’s violent crime is down almost 50%. “Those aren’t made-up numbers. Those are facts,” Bethune said. “It’s very sad, and for our officer, who I’m sure is traumatized. The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) also issued this statement Monday: “We understand that incidents like this are concerning. However, Myrtle Beach is a safe and welcoming place for all. Public safety and tourism go hand in hand, and we support ongoing collaboration to ensure both remain strong. While any act of violence is unsettling, we remain confident in the strength of our community and the resilience of the Myrtle Beach brand. Visitor sentiment remains strong, and although Easter shifted travel patterns slightly this year, overall spring visitation has been healthy, and we are anticipating a strong summer season. Our visitor services teams are active in the market and available to assist guests with questions or concerns.
