Grayson Meyers Obituary, Death: Myrtle Beach Tragedy Claims Life of Grayson Meyers in Peaches Corner Shooting Involving Teen Employee Evany McCray, 17, as Shockwaves Ripple Through Community and Nationwide Debate on Youth Gun Violence Deepens

The historic shores of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, long known for summer memories and family vacations, became the site of an unthinkable tragedy on Friday night, June 27, 2025, when an altercation inside the beloved local institution Peaches Corner erupted into gunfire—an eruption that would ultimately take the life of Grayson Meyers and send a second victim to the hospital. In the wake of the incident, the community, law enforcement, tourists, and national observers alike are left grappling with a brutal reality: a life senselessly ended, a 17-year-old now facing adult charges, and a nation increasingly haunted by the persistence of youth gun violence.

Peaches Corner, a Myrtle Beach mainstay since 1937, stands not just as a restaurant, but as a symbol of the town’s cultural memory. Families have gathered there for generations—sharing ice cream, snapping photos along Ocean Boulevard, and passing down traditions under neon lights. But on this summer evening, that familiar backdrop was shattered by an act of deadly violence that unfolded just after 11:15 p.m., leaving Grayson Meyers fatally wounded and a bystander injured in the crossfire.

According to officials with the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the alleged shooter has been identified as Evany McCray, a 17-year-old employee at Peaches Corner and a resident of Conway, SC. McCray has been charged as an adult, facing a series of grave accusations: assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a weapon by a person under 18. During a court appearance Saturday, bond was denied for the assault charge, while each of the weapons charges was set at $250,000.

According to authorities, the violent encounter was sparked by a dispute inside the restaurant between McCray and Meyers. As tensions escalated, McCray allegedly drew a firearm from his waistband and discharged it, fatally striking Meyers and unintentionally injuring a pedestrian who happened to be crossing at 9th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard at the time. The second victim, whose name has not been released, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was promptly treated at a local hospital.

At the heart of this tragedy is the figure of Grayson Meyers, whose life came to a sudden and brutal halt in a space intended for laughter, gathering, and nostalgia. While details about Grayson’s background remain limited in the immediate aftermath, his death has ignited widespread grief and disbelief—both from those who knew him and those who have learned of his story through headlines. He is remembered as a victim whose final moments were defined not by choice, but by senseless circumstance. And as is often the case in such tragedies, the loss extends beyond the immediate—affecting families, justice systems, community trust, and national discourse.

Lt. Allen Amick of the Myrtle Beach Police Department provided additional clarity during a press briefing on Saturday, emphasizing the swift response by local law enforcement. Officers arrived on the scene within one minute of the shooting, immediately detaining McCray and initiating efforts to stabilize the victims. Their rapid intervention, though unable to save Grayson, may have prevented further injury or escalation. In the words of Lt. Amick, the department’s priority was containment and care, an approach that highlighted both the professionalism of the force and the chaos of the situation.

Eyewitnesses to the aftermath painted a picture of abrupt disruption and public shock. Zion Atkinson, a tourist from West Virginia, described hearing the gunshots before witnessing law enforcement rapidly sealing off the area. “I heard the shots, and then the police just immediately came down here, shutting off the entire section of the street,” Atkinson recounted. Another visitor from Vermont, who asked to remain unnamed, expressed emotional concern: “I have one who’s 19 and the rest are younger. I’m worried about what they’re growing up in—this kind of thing didn’t used to happen so often.”

The emotional core of these reactions is not just fear—it is grief for the loss of innocence in places where families once felt safe. A restaurant like Peaches Corner is not just a business; it is a shared cultural experience. That such a setting could transform, in seconds, into a scene of fatal violence, has shaken residents and visitors alike. The trauma now etched into this space will not soon be forgotten.

Assistant Police Chief Chris Smith addressed a sobering reality at the root of this incident: the increasing prevalence of juveniles accessing and using firearms. “Unlawful possession of firearms by juveniles continues to be a nationwide concern,” Smith stated, his words serving as both observation and indictment. The fact that a 17-year-old—working in a public-facing service role—had access to a loaded firearm and used it in a crowded establishment demands scrutiny, not only of individual accountability but of the structural failures that enabled this scenario to occur.

Police Chief Amy Prock expanded the conversation, calling for action on multiple levels. “We need to take action to address violence in our community,” she said, “but we also need to look beyond the local level and work together with legislators to develop real solutions.” Her comments, made in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, reflect a growing recognition that while local law enforcement can respond, prevention requires systemic change—from legislation and enforcement to education and mental health access.

The tragedy also intersects with questions of policy and enforcement regarding youth presence in public spaces. Myrtle Beach currently enforces a curfew for individuals under 18, restricting them from being on the streets between midnight and 6 a.m., with exceptions for those going to or from work. In this case, officials confirmed that McCray was exempt under the curfew as he was employed at Peaches Corner and was on duty at the time of the altercation.

Yet even with curfews in place, this case underscores a critical gap: regulation alone does not equal prevention. The questions now facing the community are weighty: How did a teenager come into possession of a firearm? What, if anything, could have de-escalated the situation before it turned fatal? What interventions might have interrupted the trajectory of violence—whether psychological, relational, or social?

As the investigation remains active and ongoing, authorities continue to urge witnesses to come forward. Tips may be submitted anonymously, and the police department is committed to ensuring that justice is pursued thoroughly and responsibly. Still, justice in this case is complicated. It cannot bring back Grayson Meyers, nor can it fully account for the ripple effect of trauma now flowing through his loved ones and the wider community.

What it can do—what it must do—is illuminate the lessons of this tragedy. That gun violence, especially involving youth, is not an abstract crisis. It is real. It is here. It disrupts homes, businesses, and cities. It transforms everyday spaces into crime scenes. And in this case, it has claimed the life of a young man whose future—whatever its shape—was stolen by a bullet.

As Myrtle Beach begins the slow process of healing, the name Grayson Meyers must not be reduced to a headline or a footnote. He must be remembered for more than the manner of his death. In the days ahead, family and friends will grieve, justice will proceed, and policy discussions will ignite. But what must remain central is the simple, painful truth that a life has been lost, and that loss cannot be undone.

May Grayson Meyers be remembered with dignity. May the community of Myrtle Beach find strength in unity. And may this tragedy serve not only as a call for mourning, but as a resounding demand for change—in laws, in access to weapons, in how we care for our youth, and in the values we choose to protect.