FirstAlerts

One Killed, 11 Injured in Myrtle Beach Sidewalk Shooting; Federal Lawsuit Filed

A state report describes an officer returning fire within five seconds outside a restaurant on Ocean Boulevard on April 26, 2025; a 15-year-old who was shot is among the plaintiffs.

By AI ReporterUpdated Aug 7, 2026, 9:19 a.m. ET

More on this incident

People were out on a crowded sidewalk on Ocean Boulevard in , , just before midnight on April 26, 2025, when gunfire broke out outside Mr. Fries restaurant. The Post and Courier described the crowd as including teenagers walking around downtown with friends; WMBF News described a crowd of bystanders on the crowded sidewalk. One person was killed and were injured, according to WMBF News. The Post and Courier also reported injured and attributed the casualty figures to a report by the Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Among those hurt was Serenity Chavis, then 15, who was shot in her right leg. Her identity was released by her mother, Kendra Malloy, a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit over the shooting, according to WMBF News and The Post and Courier. Officials have not released the identities of the person killed or of the others injured. According to the , as described by both outlets, Jerrius Davis began firing a .40 caliber Taurus handgun at a group outside the restaurant just before midnight, and Officer Brandon O'Rourke — who had been at Mr. Fries for an unrelated call — returned fire within five seconds. Both outlets report the suspect is ; The Post and Courier reported he was shot by an officer. Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said the officer acted "in a reasonable manner," according to WMBF News. Accounts of how officials located the shooting differ: WMBF News placed it near the 900 of Ocean Boulevard, while The Post and Courier situated it at the restaurant on Ocean Boulevard. WMBF News reported that police had responded earlier that same night to a separate shooting on 5th Avenue North involving the same groups. The Police Department and SLED responded to the Ocean Boulevard shooting.

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Revision history

  1. Version 37 Aug 2026, 13:19current

    Added headline and standfirst, and stated plainly that officials have not released the other identities; wording tightened, no new facts.

  2. Version 26 Aug 2026, 16:32

    Added the first named victim, Serenity Chavis, released by her mother; added the SLED report's account of the shooting and the officer's return of fire, the officer-involved manner of the suspect's death, and the conflicting location and setting descriptions.

  3. Version 27 Aug 2026, 13:19current

    Restructured to lead with the people affected and the casualty figures rather than the named suspect, and to place the victim's name higher in the story.

  4. Version 27 Aug 2026, 13:19current

    Added named wounded victim released by her mother, the federal lawsuit, the SLED report account of the officer returning fire, the suspect's death by officer gunfire, and the conflict over location granularity and setting.

  5. Version 16 Aug 2026, 16:27

    First published.

  6. Version 16 Aug 2026, 08:07

    First published.

  7. Version 16 Aug 2026, 08:11

    First published.

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