Beaufort County Sheriff PJ Tanner joined Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone on Friday, July 17, 2026, to provide an update on the ongoing investigation into the July 4 shooting at Coligny Beach on Hilton Head Island.
On July 16, 2026, the Beaufort County Grand Jury returned indictments against seven individuals in connection with the shooting.
- Jayden Lorenzo Hawes, 18, of St. Helena Island
Charges: Two counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, four counts of Assault and Battery, Second Degree, Breach of the Peace, High and Aggravated Nature, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime.
- Quazeir Rashim Davis, 17, of St. Helena Island
Charges: Two counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, four counts of Assault and Battery, Second Degree, Breach of the Peace, High and Aggravated Nature, Possession or Acquisition of a Handgun by a Person Under 18 Years of Age, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime.
- Marcello Lopez Royal, 17, of St. Helena Island
Charges: Two counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, four counts of Assault and Battery, Second Degree, Breach of the Peace, High and Aggravated Nature, Possession or Acquisition of a Handgun by a Person Under 18 Years of Age, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime.
- Andre Nyciere-Richard Greene Jr., 20, of Ridgeland
Charges: Two counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, four counts of Assault and Battery, Second Degree, Breach of the Peace, High and Aggravated Nature, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime.
- Jacob Malik Johnson, 22, of Beaufort
Charges: Two counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, four counts of Assault and Battery, Second Degree, Breach of the Peace, High and Aggravated Nature, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime.
- Christopher Charles Capers II, 17, of St. Helena Island
Charge: Accessory After the Fact.
- Amarion Jameer Riley, 22, of Ridgeland
Charges: Possession of a Machine Gun and Breach of the Peace, High and Aggravated Nature.
The indictments returned by the Beaufort County Grand Jury are formal charging documents. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
"Our office, working with the Sheriff's Office, has sought to hold every shooter in a situation in which there is a gun battle with multiple people who turn an otherwise peaceful environment into a battlefield," Solicitor Stone said. "The way I've explained it to juries before is every shooter is responsible for every bullet."
Sheriff Tanner praised the work of investigators throughout the case.
"I am very, very proud of the men and women of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office for how they handled this case and, quite frankly, how they handle all cases they work. They do an amazing job," Tanner said. "I was with them that night shortly after the shooting, and it's incredible what they did. Not only is the work that they did incredible, but it's also the technology, what we utilize, that made it that much better."
Solicitor Stone also credited the Sheriff's Office's investigative resources and technology for helping move the case forward.
"What has allowed us to go quicker in this matter is, again, the technology used by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office," Stone said. "It was the Sheriff's Office camera that was on the beach at the time and caught everything on video that helps us not only move forward quicker, but most importantly, with certainty."
Case Background
Shortly after 8:20 p.m. on July 4, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received multiple reports of gunshots in the area of Coligny Beach. Deputies who were already working in the area responded immediately as additional information was received.
Eight people suffered what appeared to be non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to area hospitals for medical treatment.
The investigation determined the shooting occurred after a fight broke out between two groups on the public beach. During the altercation, gunfire was exchanged before those involved fled the scene.
Responding deputies quickly gathered information from witnesses and processed evidence at the scene, allowing investigators to identify and detain individuals believed to be involved. Investigators also recovered multiple firearms believed to be connected to the incident.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the investigator, Sgt. Aaron at 843-255-3436. Those wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips through Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County using the P3 Tips app, online at tipsbft.com, or by calling 844-TIPS-BFT.
To view the press conference in its entirety, please visit:
https://youtu.be/DOMQRxKDsY0
