Two hospitalized, two arrested after early morning Hilton Head shooting
An early morning shooting on Hilton Head Island hospitalized two and led to the arrest of two others, according to local law enforcement.
Shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office responded to gunshot reports on South Forest Beach Drive, where they found a 17-year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound on the ground. He was transported to the hospital. Prior to deputies’ arrival on scene, a second victim, an 18-year-old male, was transported to the hospital by another person.
The status of the victims is unknown at this time, according to law enforcement.
While on scene, deputies learned that the shooting suspects fled in a vehicle. When deputies tried to pull over a vehicle with a matching description, the drivers attempted to flee. The pursuit ended near Sunday Ford Drive on Hilton Head after the successful deployment of a tire deflation device, according to law enforcement.
Of the “multiple” occupants in the vehicle that were detained, further investigation led to the arrest of 18-year-old Erick Alexander Martinez Ambrosio and 17-year-old Jonathan Ambrosio Reyes, both of Bluffton. They were booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center before 11 a.m. Sunday.
Ambrosio was charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and aggravated breach of peace. Under South Carolina law, attempted murder is a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Reyes was charged with fleeing to evade arrest, failure to stop for blue lights and accessory after the fact of attempted murder. The final charge can come in various forms, like hiding an offender or providing them with transportation to assist a primary offender after a crime has taken place. In South Carolina, the penalty for this charge depends on the primary offense. In this case, the penalty would be a felony charge.
The shooting is still under investigation, and while law enforcement might still be in the Hilton Head area, there is no ongoing threat to the public, according to law enforcement. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the lead investigator, Master Sergeant Seifert at 843-255-3414.
This story was originally published November 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM.
