A Bluffton man shot outside Hallmark White Oak Apartments near old town Tuesday afternoon drove himself to a nearby gas station, where he was airlifted to a Savannah hospital, according to the Bluffton Police Department. The shooter or shooters remain at large, police said.
Sean Kirby, 34, was shot beneath the right armpit at the apartment complex on Haigler Boulevard at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Sgt. Joe Babkiewicz.
Kirby then drove to the Nickelpumpers at the intersection of Bruin Road and S.C. 46, where he called emergency dispatch.
After law enforcement and emergency responders arrived, Kirby was taken by helicopter to Memorial University Medical Center where his condition is unknown, Babkiewicz said.
Kirby told law enforcement he had been looking for a painting job at the apartments, Babkiewicz said. The pick-up truck he was driving bore a logo that read Sean Kirby Painting.
"Some people saw him speaking with individuals, and a short time later heard a gunshot go off," Babkiewicz said. "We just have witnesses who heard a loud boom. Nobody saw anything."
Investigators are unsure if Kirby was in the truck at the time he was shot. The victim was "alert and conscious" when officers arrived at Nickelpumpers but was only able to give a brief description of what happened, Babkiewicz said.
The Bluffton Police Department has no suspects in the shooting. No weapon or shell casings were recovered from the scene, Babkiewicz said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the department's Crime Tip Hotline at 843-706-4560.
Follow reporter Allison Stice at twitter.com/lcblotter.


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