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ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. — Five months after a mass shooting at Willie’s Bar and Grill left four dead and 16 wounded, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has shifted its focus to a grand jury following the arrest of a 27 year-old suspect.

Anferny Devon Freeman, 27, of Beaufort, now faces four counts of murder and possession of a weapon during a commission of a violent crime. The charges, filed in late November, mark a significant turning point in an investigation that initially stalled due to a lack of witness cooperation among the estimated 700 people present during the Oct. 12, 2025, shooting.

A Feud Turned Fatal

According to investigators, the violence erupted from a long standing personal dispute between Freeman and 22-year old Kashawn Smalls-Glaze. Forensic ballistics and DNA evidence analyzed by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) suggest an exchange of gunfire occurred in the back of the establishment.

Smalls-Glaze was among the four fatalities. The others killed were Chiraad Smalls, 33; A’shan’tek Milledge, 22; and Amos Gary, 54, a security guard at the bar. While the sheriff’s office initially struggled to secure eyewitness statements, physical evidence eventually linked Freeman to the scene. Freeman himself sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach during the incident.

The Verification Process

To ensure the integrity of the charges, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office employed an objective multi agency verification process:

1. Ballistic Mapping: SLED technicians used 3D laser scanning to map bullet trajectories across the Willie’s Bar patio, distinguishing between at least three different firearms used during the chaos.
2. Digital Footprint Analysis: The FBI’s dedicated evidence portal allowed investigators to cross-reference dozens of anonymously uploaded cell phone videos to establish a chronological sequence of the initial “bursts” of gunfire.
3. Grand Jury Referral: In January 2026, Freeman waived his right to a preliminary hearing. This moved the case directly to a grand jury, an objective legal body tasked with determining if the evidence is sufficient to warrant a criminal trial.

The shooting has left a lasting mark on the Gullah Geechee community of St. Helena. Beyond the criminal case, the South Carolina Department of Revenue has challenged the bar’s ability to sell alcohol, noting that owner Willie Turral lacked the required “Local Option Permit” for Sunday sales at the time of the 1 a.m. shooting.

Freeman remains held without bond at the Beaufort County Detention Center. A trial date has not yet been set as the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office continues to process the extensive forensic files.