Investigation into shooting continues as community mourns young mother

By Ruben Lowman

The Loris community is reeling following a violent shooting and subsequent car crash that claimed the life of a 21-year old woman and left a child injured on the night of Tuesday, March 31.

According to the Horry County Police Department, officers were dispatched to the area of Log Cabin Road near Highway 9 shortly before 8 p.m. in response to reports of gunfire being directed into a moving vehicle.

The driver, identified by the Horry County Coroner’s Office as Fredriqua Grate, was struck by the gunfire while traveling near the intersection of Powell Lane.

According to officials, the injury caused Grate to lose control of her vehicle, which then left the roadway and collided violently with a utility pole.

Grate was later pronounced dead from her injuries, leaving behind a grieving family and a tight-knit community searching for answers.

The incident resulted in three total victims, including a child who was a passenger in the vehicle during the attack. Neighbors living along Log Cabin Road reported hearing a rapid succession of gunshots followed by the sound of the car hitting the pole.

Several residents rushed from their homes to the wreckage to provide first aid before first responders arrived. One witness described the scene as chaotic and heartbreaking noting that those inside appeared to be regular citizens caught in a sudden act of violence rather than a targeted conflict.

While HCPD officials have confirmed the injuries to the child and a third adult, the specific medical statuses of the survivors have remained closely guarded as the investigation enters its second week.

The loss of Fredriqua Grate has sparked an outpouring of support for her family with a memorial tree recently planted in her honor as friends remember her as a devoted daughter and friend. As of early April no arrests have been made and HCPD is working to determine the origin of the shots and a potential motive for the shooting.

Public Information Officer Thomas Bell has stated that the investigation is ongoing and active with detectives canvassing the rural area for any surveillance footage or witnesses who may have seen suspicious vehicles near Log Cabin Road that evening.

Local authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the shooting or the events leading up to the crash to contact the Horry County Police tip line.