WMBF News reports that MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - The North Myrtle Beach Police Department has released a statement following a photo of an officer with a gun.
On Saturday, the department said that the firearm shown in the circulating social media photo is a less-than-lethal shotgun, a tool carried by trained officers to provide additional options for safely managing rapidly evolving situations while reducing the likelihood that deadly force will be necessary.
Officers say that just after 10:00 p.m.
on Friday, they were called to the area of 14th Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard after receiving numerous 911 calls reporting a large fight involving several hundred individuals and the use of fireworks.
Police say the scene was chaotic, with large groups running in multiple directions and fighting.
Officers deployed less-than-lethal shotguns in preparation out of precaution, but did not fire any rounds, said police.