Massive brawl breaks out between drunk shirtless men on river sandbar causing 'severe' injuries as 6 including woman are arrested

By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-19 20:19:15 | Updated at 2026-06-21 12:20:28 1 day ago

By JOE HUTCHISON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 20:56 BST, 19 June 2026 | Updated: 21:14 BST, 19 June 2026

A massive brawl of shirtless drunken men broke out on a South Carolina sandbar, leading to severe injuries and six arrests.

The large scale riot broke out on June 6 on the Congaree River in Calhoun County, and left multiple people with injuries.

According to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office around 20 people were involved in the melee which kicked off during the Sparkleberry Duck Run. 

The annual event involves people setting up tents and duck boats along the river, with Sheriff Thomas Summers telling WISTV that alcohol was a factor in the fight. 

Footage of the fight shows a large group of shirtless men brawling with each other and stumbling around the sand.

One man was seen being picked up and thrown to the ground, while others threw wild punches at each other. Some women in bikinis can be seen amongst the fray. 

According to Sheriff Summers, three people suffered swelling to their eyes and head injuries adding that the injuries 'were severe'. 

The large scale riot broke out earlier this month on the Congaree River in Calhoun County

Multiple people were left with severe injuries, local police said, with six people now facing charges

This week, five men and a woman were arrested with the sheriff's office warning that more are to be expected as they continue to investigate. The cause of the riot still remains unknown.

Summers said: 'To see that many people swinging, fighting, it could have been really, really, bad.

'I’m sure there are injuries that we haven’t heard about. That’s just the nature of that type of beast.

'The water and drinking don’t mix. It could be a family setting. Obviously, this would not be a good place to take your children if you wanted to because of things like this.'

Brendan Bonds, Hunter Dalzell, Lucas Scott, Edward Scott, Austin Mizzell, and Taylor Knudson are all facing assault and battery charges, as well as breach of peace. 

A post to Facebook by the sheriff's office said: 'This is still an ongoing investigation with more arrests expected. 

'If anyone has any information regarding the videos in our comments, please reach out to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office at 803-874-2741.

The local sheriff's office said that alcohol had been a factor in the brawl but the exact reason for the melee remains unknown 

The injuried suffered swelling to their eyes and head, local police said

Lucas Scott, left, Hunter Dalzell, center, and Austin Mizzell are all pictured here

Brendan Bonds, left, Edward Scott, center, and Taylor Knudson are seen here in their mugshots issued by the sheriff

'Sheriff Summers would like to remind the public that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.'

Bonds bond was set at $20,200 after being charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, first-degree assault and battery, breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature, and third degree assault and battery.

Lucas and Edward Scott and Mizzell are facing charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, first degree assault and battery, as well as breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature. Their bonds were each set at $40,000. 

Dalzell is facing an assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature charge, as well as breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature, his bond was set at $50,000.

Knudson meanwhile faces two counts of third degree assault and battery, as well as breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature. Her bond was set at $11,000.

Social media profiles for Knudson and Lucas Scott indicate that the two are in a relationship. 

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