Proudly Serving the Citizens of Beaufort County, South Carolina

For emergencies, call 9-1-1

Proudly Serving the Citizens of Beaufort County, South Carolina

For emergencies, call 9-1-1

Francisco Cortes, wanted in Hilton Head Island shooting, arrested in Jasper County

On the evening of July 8, 2021, Francisco Cortes — who is wanted for the July 5, 2021 shooting at the Oaks, Hilton Head Island — was arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office on unrelated charges.

Case History

At approximately 4:00 a.m. on July 5, 2021. Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Oaks apartments, Hilton Head Island to a report of a shooting, in which a man and a woman were wounded.

Deputies learned that the two were inside an apartment when they were wounded by bullets fired through the front door.

Deputies also learned that the subject, 27-year-old Francisco Cortes of Bluffton, fled the scene after the shooting.

The wounded man and woman were transported to the Savannah Memorial Hospital, where they were treated and released.

Following interviews of witnesses, investigators met with a Beaufort County magistrate and obtained warrants for Francisco Cortes’s arrest for two counts of Attempted Murder, two counts of Discharging a Firearm into a Dwelling, one count of Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime and one count of Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol.

Arrest of Francisco Cortes

On the evening of July 8, 2021, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Francisco Cortes for a property crime that occurred in their jurisdiction.

Cortes is being held at the Jasper County Detention Center for last night’s charges and as a wanted person in the Oaks shooting.

Cortes will be formally charged in the Oaks shooting when custody is transferred to Beaufort County.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office appreciates your partnership in the safety of our community.