SOUTH CAROLINA — Authorities are investigating a murder-suicide that spanned multiple Lowcountry communities, leaving two people dead on Hilton Head Island and the suspected gunman later found dead in Bluffton, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to reports of gunshots shortly after 11:30 p.m. on February 19 on Lark Street on Hilton Head Island. When law enforcement arrived, they discovered a 50-year-old woman and a 62-year-old man lying outside a residence with gunshot wounds. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined the suspect fled the area in a vehicle. Using automated license plate reader cameras, deputies identified the vehicle and later located it near Promenade Street in Bluffton. Authorities said the suspect, identified as a 52-year-old man, had returned to his residence in that area.
Law enforcement established a perimeter around the home and made contact with the suspect by phone during an hours-long standoff. A 56-year-old woman who was inside the residence with the suspect was able to exit safely and was not injured.
After negotiations, deputies entered the residence and found the suspect dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials said the incident appears to be domestic-related based on preliminary information, though the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. Authorities added that there is no ongoing threat to the public, but law enforcement presence may continue in parts of Hilton Head and Bluffton as the investigation proceeds.
