MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Horry County police are conducting a homicide investigation in the Myrtlewood community near 48th Avenue North Tuesday morning.
According to Captain John Harrelson with Horry County police, officers are investigating a homicide off of Wild Iris Drive, but could not offer specifics on the manner of death.
Deputy Coroner Michelle McSpadden identified the victim as 42-year-old Mark Verhasselt and said he died of a gunshot wound. Verhasselt is from Fayetteville, but lived in the Myrtle Beach are on an off for several years.
Capt. Harrelson says detectives and crime scene personnel are on site “investigating and processing,” but did not comment on whether police are questioning anyone in the death.
People who live off of Wild Iris Drive said a crime scene is the last thing they expected to wake up to, since the neighborhood is usually quiet
“Terrifying. Terrifying. I feel really shaken up right now,” said Myrtlewood resident Benjamin Loh.
Loh said he dialed 911 as soon as he heard what he thought were gunshots outside his condo, after midnight.
“I’ve been in the range a couple of times and I’ve heard shots like that. It was absolutely terrifying. I locked my doors and everything,” he said.
Loh has lived in the Myrtlewood community for almost a year and says he never thought he’d see a crime scene so close to his home.
“This is the weirdest neighborhood for this to happen. This is by far the last place I expected this to happen,” he said.
Waking up to a homicide investigation on his street was not the housewarming Allen Lawless and his family expected. They just moved to the neighborhood from upstate New York a few days ago.
“A little uneasy feeling I guess. We were hoping this is a pretty good neighborhood. We got a couple little ones that were with us so we wanted to makes sure we’re safe,” he said.