In the early hours of Sunday, May 12, 2025, a vibrant night at the Qulture nightclub on East Palmetto Street in Florence, South Carolina, turned tragic, leaving one person dead and six others wounded in a mass shooting that has shaken the community. The incident, which unfolded in the parking lot of the popular venue, has left families grieving, authorities searching for answers, and residents grappling with the senseless violence that erupted on what should have been a celebratory Mother’s Day weekend. For those who lost a loved one or now face the long road to recovery, the scars of this night will linger far beyond the headlines.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a disturbance at the nightclub just before 3 a.m., according to Sheriff T.J. Joye. What began as a verbal altercation among a group of individuals outside the club escalated rapidly. A confrontation with a security guard reportedly prompted some individuals to retrieve firearms from the parking lot, leading to a chaotic exchange of gunfire. Seven people were struck by bullets, with one victim, a security guard, pronounced dead at the scene. The other six were rushed to nearby hospitals, their conditions undisclosed as of late Sunday. The identity of the deceased has not been released, pending notification of family members, leaving the community in a state of anxious uncertainty.
Sheriff Joye described the scene as one of chaos, with the disturbance spilling out from the nightclub into the parking lot, where the deadly shots were fired. Investigators are piecing together the sequence of events, focusing on what sparked the initial altercation and who was responsible for the gunfire. No suspects have been named, and no arrests have been made, but authorities are pursuing leads with urgency. The sheriff emphasized that the investigation is active, with deputies working around the clock to bring justice to the victims and their families. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office has called on the public for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward, either directly or anonymously through Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee.
This shooting marks the second violent incident in Florence County within 24 hours, compounding the community’s distress. On Saturday morning, another nightclub shooting left one person in critical condition, raising concerns about escalating violence in the area. Sheriff Joye noted that charges are expected in both cases, though the connection between the two incidents, if any, remains unclear. The back-to-back shootings have prompted local leaders to call for action, with residents expressing frustration and fear over the rising tide of gun violence. For many, the Qulture nightclub, once a place of music and connection, now stands as a somber reminder of loss.
As the investigation continues, the human toll of the tragedy is impossible to ignore. The family of the slain security guard faces an unimaginable void, while the six surviving victims navigate the physical and emotional aftermath of their injuries. Community members have begun to rally, offering prayers and support, but the path to healing will be long. Authorities are determined to uncover the truth, but for now, Florence County mourns, holding tight to hope for justice and peace in the wake of this heartbreaking violence.
