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The City of Myrtle Beach cited HIPAA as a reason for why they are unable to give some additional details about Saturday’s shooting that killed 18-year-old Jerrius Davis, and left 11 others with injuries.

As of Thursday afternoon, the city had not released specific ages or genders for the 11 people who were injured, or the extent of each person’s injury. During a press conference the prior day, Myrtle Beach’s Police Chief Amy Prock said the ages of those injured ranged from 13 to 43 years-old, and that they suffered from life-threatening injuries after being shot. Her statement was later clarified by Denari after the press conference.

In two previous emails to The Sun News, Denari wrote that the Myrtle Beach Police Department will not be releasing any additional information about those who were injured due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA.

“The MBPD will not release the names of the people injured. Doing so would be a HIPAA violation. That is a fact,” her second email read.

According to the United States Department of Justice, “most state and local police or other law enforcement agencies,” are not subject to HIPAA’s Privacy Rule.

In a DOJ produced HIPAA guide for law enforcement, the department writes that “Hospitals, and most clinics, physicians and other health care practitioners,” must comply with HIPAA.

Police officers are not included in the DOJ’s written list.

Roy Taylor, who has over 40 years of police experience and a PhD in Criminal Justice, said that police are not required to follow HIPAA.

“I mean, a lot of people over estimate what the HIPAA rules really say. What was HIPAA designed for? It’s so that you can take your medical records and go to any other doctor you want,” Taylor said. “That’s what it really was designed for.”

In the case of an Officer Involved Shooting, Taylor said police can publicly release the ages, genders and a general status update on each person’s injury without violating anyone’s privacy.

“This is general information about victims or people involved or not,” he said. “It does not have anything to do with HIPAA.”

Denari later sent an email after being asked to respond to Taylor’s interview by The Sun News, saying she was wrong.

“I was wrong on HIPAA. But we will not be releasing the names of those who are injured. We don’t have the names. That’s part of SLED’s investigation. I cannot stress to you enough that this is a SLED investigation. There will be more answers when the investigation is finished,” an email from lead city spokesperson Meredith Denari read. “I understand that answers are wanted immediately, but we do not have them because this is an ongoing, SLED investigation.”

What happened during the Myrtle Beach press conference?

Four days after the shooting, Mayor Brenda Bethune and Police Chief Amy Prock appeared in a televised press conference for the first time following the event.

Within the first seconds of each official speaking, the video footage shows them holding up pieces of paper to read what appears to be written statements.

“During the incident, eleven individuals were injured as a result of gunshots, and they were treated,” Prock read from her statement. The Sun News requested a copy.

The injured people ranged in age from 13 to 43 years-old, with “ten life-threatening injuries that have been treated, with one individual who remains in critical condition,” Prock said

Multiple local media outlets reported that Denari requested a clarification after the press conference.

“What we know from SLED is gunshot-related injuries vary as shrapnel, graze or gunshot injuries,” her email to media said.

Public speeches given by government employees or elected officials are considered part of the public record.

The Sun News requested copies of the written statements following the press conference. In two different emails, Denari said she did not have them.

“I do not have copies of the chief and mayor’s personally-written communications from yesterday,” she wrote in her second email. “It also seemed to me they spoke from the heart, so whatever was written would not be all-comprehensive of what they said. The news conference is available on our YouTube channel if you would like to transcribe their comments.”

Denari later clarified her previous statements and wrote, “I didn’t say there weren’t copies. I said I don’t have a copy.”

On Thursday afternoon, The Sun News filed a Freedom of Information Act request for copies and drafts of Bethune’s and Prock’s statements. An automated email from the city’s FOIA office confirmed that they received the request.

This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 2:08 PM.