The shaky cell phone video begins with shouts and the gleam of a firearm. In the middle of a quiet street in Hilton Head Island’s Squiresgate neighborhood, an off-duty Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputy can be seen pointing a handgun at a group of teenagers. “Call the police!” one boy yells. The deputy fires back, “I am the police,” before forcing them to the ground.
What happened on September 28, 2025, just before 7 p.m., soon journeyed well beyond the gated community within which it began, kindling argument about police accountability, public trust, and the social media’s power to define a crisis.
A tweet from X.
The incident reportedly started about 6:45 p.m., said the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). The deputy, who was later revealed by officials to be Master Sgt. Billy Squires, alleged that the teenagers poked a gun at him. That, he alleged, prompted him to pull out his service weapon.
But the widely circulated video, shared thousands of times on X, does not show a weapon in the teens’ hands. Instead, it shows the deputy repeatedly pointing his gun, shouting commands, and dragging one boy to the pavement. Neighbors are heard screaming, while one teen calls out for his mother.
The footage has left many questioning whether the deputy escalated the encounter unnecessarily.
The fallout was swift. By that night, Squires was stripped of his badge, issued firearms, and credentials. He was suspended without pay. Sheriff P.J. Tanner later said,
“Our deputies are held to the highest standards, both on and off duty. Any conduct that undermines community trust will be taken seriously.”
The sheriff’s office initiated an Internal Affairs probe, aka an administrative review of whether the deputy violated department procedure. Alongside that, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) launched a criminal probe, the standard procedure when an officer’s actions may cross into criminal territory. The findings will go to the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and its Regional Public Integrity Unit, which could decide on charges ranging from misconduct to assault.
For the families of the teens, the incident was traumatizing.
“My grandson could have been killed that night,”
said Betty Habersham, grandmother of one of the boys.
“That man had no right to pull a gun on children.”
Attorneys representing several families say they are preparing civil action.
There are also unverified claims that Squires was intoxicated at the time and that he was never given a breathalyzer by responding deputies. BCSO has not confirmed these allegations, and no evidence of alcohol testing has been made public.
The community itself is divided. Some residents say the deputy acted out of fear in a tense moment. Others argue the video is proof of excessive force.
This case also touches on a larger national debate. Officers, even when off duty, are expected to follow professional standards. As Sheriff Tanner put it,
“The badge does not come off when you go home.”
Across the U.S., the nation’s cities continue to struggle with questions of accountability, and nowhere more so than when police interactions get mixed with children. The case of Hilton Head now fits within that broader context of trust, transparency, and the role of watchdogs to keep both protection and fairness safe.
Both the Internal Affairs review and SLED’s criminal investigation remain active. Once complete, the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will decide if Master Sgt. Squires faces criminal charges.
For the families involved, the wait is agonizing.
“We just want the truth to come out,”
One parent said. For Beaufort County, the case may ultimately test whether its promises of accountability match its actions.
Until then, the video remains the central piece of evidence a stark reminder of how a quiet Sunday evening in Hilton Head Island erupted into a national flashpoint.
