Navy Sailor Arrested in Illinois in Connection with South Carolina Memorial Day Mass Shooting
Little River, SC / North Chicago, IL — May 30, 2025
A 19-year-old U.S. Navy sailor has been arrested in Illinois in connection with a harrowing Memorial Day weekend mass shooting in South Carolina that left at least 10 people wounded, shaking a peaceful riverside community and prompting a multistate law enforcement effort to apprehend the suspect.
Shawon Shamarion Williams, a Navy seaman assigned to Naval Station Great Lakes, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and transferred to the Lake County Jail in northern Illinois. Williams, who held the rank of hull maintenance technician seaman, was stationed at the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Great Lakes, according to Cmdr. Jessica L. McNulty, spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
The arrest stems from a chaotic and violent incident that unfolded in Little River, South Carolina, a coastal town near the North Carolina border, on Sunday, May 25. A private party boat had just returned to shore when gunfire erupted, injuring 10 people in what local authorities have described as a targeted attack triggered by a dispute among individuals disembarking from the vessel.
Cellphone footage captured by bystanders and later shared online shows the terrifying moments as panicked screams and gunshots rang out along the pier. Victims and witnesses described a sudden outbreak of violence that turned a festive occasion into a nightmare.
“We got shot coming off the boat,” said Jeremy Evans, one of the shooting victims. “We were on the pier. When I got hit, I took my shorts off and wrapped it around my wound.” Evans was shot in the leg and later posted a video update from his recovery, thanking supporters and calling for accountability.
“We were involved in a mass shooting. Ten of us got sprayed on this deck,” Evans said. He described the suspect opening fire while retreating from the scene. “He started shooting and running backwards.”
Authorities believe the shooting was sparked by a dispute that escalated rapidly after the boat docked. Investigators have not disclosed the nature of the quarrel or Williams’ alleged role in instigating the violence, but they have stated that more arrests may follow as the investigation continues.
Williams is currently being held on a fugitive of justice charge in Lake County, Illinois, and is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning. During that appearance, the extradition process to South Carolina is expected to begin. Once extradited, he faces multiple counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
The arrest has drawn national attention not only due to the violent nature of the crime but also because the suspect is an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy. The Navy has stated it is cooperating fully with law enforcement, and NCIS confirmed the handover of Williams to civilian authorities for prosecution.
“This type of behavior is deeply inconsistent with the values and standards of the United States Navy,” Cmdr. McNulty said. “We are working closely with South Carolina law enforcement and the NCIS as the investigation unfolds.”
Little River residents and victims’ families are left reeling in the wake of the violence, demanding answers and justice. Local officials have increased patrols in the area and are urging anyone with additional information or video footage to come forward.
- As the community mourns and recovers, and as legal proceedings begin, the arrest of Shawon Williams marks a significant development in a case that underscores the growing challenges law enforcement faces in addressing gun violence, even in traditionally quiet and safe areas.