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Sheriff Tanner will not seek re-election, to retire at end of term
Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner speaks about developments in the case of the Oct. 12 mass shooting at Willie's Bar and Grill during a press conference held Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters in Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/File/The Island News
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
By Mike McCombs The Island News Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner will not run for re-election and will retire when his term ends after 28 years on Jan. 5, 2027. In a letter sent to Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office personnel on Thursday afternoon, March 12, confirmed to The Island News by two different sources, Tanner expresses his “deepest gratitude” to them for their “commitment to public service, and your unwavering support that has made my tenure as your Sheriff a remarkable and rewarding experience. Serving Beaufort
County as the elected Sheriff for 28 years, as of January 5, 2027, has been my honor and privilege.” “Working alongside such a dedicated, talented group of individuals as the Sheriff’s Office has been the highlight of my 46 years as a law enforcement officer in South Carolina,” Tanner wrote. “The challenges we have conquered, and the accomplishments and victories we have celebrated together have truly been both personally and professionally rewarding and memorable. I will always be grateful to every one of you for your unwavering dedication to
serving this Office and the citizens of Beaufort County. “I want to leave you with a feeling and a sense of pride in this Office and yourself with the knowledge that we should never forget where we came from, and how we overcame sizable obstacles in getting to where we are today! Most importantly, never forget that we provide an extremely important public safety service to the citizens, visitors and residents of Beaufort County who expect, and who we have always delivered, nothing less than our very best!
SEE TERM PAGE A6
DANCING WITH OUR STARS
LOLITA HUCKABY
Play golf, do yard work: Sheriff to join ranks of retirees
A
BEAUFORT t some point, enough’s enough. You have to walk away.” That’s what Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner told a Savannah television reporter last week when explaining his surprise decision not to seek an eighth term in office this year. As should be well-known now by anyone who watches local politics, Tanner’s decision comes not only as a surprise but so does the timing, days before the March 16 opening of the political parties’ candidate filing period. The deadline for candidates wishing to run on a party platform in the upcoming primaries is March 30 which doesn’t give a potential candidate for the sheriff’s office much time …
“
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A8
The Beaufort Dance Company kicks off Night 2 of CAPA’s Dancing With Our Stars on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The event raised a total of $389,823.79. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Freeman faces additional charges in Willie’s Bar & Grill shooting Accused shooter was already facing four murder charges
warrants for Assault and Battery in the First Degree in relation to the mass shootBy Mike McCombs ing that occurred The Island News on Oct. 12, 2025, Freeman at Willie’s Bar & Anferny Devon Freeman, 27, of St. Helena Island, has been Grill on St. Helena Island. Freeman, already detained at served with 14 additional arrest
According to Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office General Counsel Daniel Gourley, the 14 Assault and Battery charges are for the 14 individuals shot but not killed in the shooting. Gourley said Assault and Battery in the First Degree is
the Beaufort County Detention Center, had already been charged with four counts of murder, aggravated breach of peace, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in relation to the shooting. The shooting resulted in four fatalities and 15 individuals injured, including Freeman.
SEE CHARGES PAGE A7
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SC candidates officially file to appear on 2026 ballots.
Marwin Kline gets track season off and running.
4 Beaufort High seniors named Heritage Classic Foundation scholars.
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