SOCASTEE, S.C. (WBTW) — A Socastee bar is shutting down in the wake of a Monday morning shooting that claimed the life of a 43-year-old man. "It is with a heavy heart that we have the made the decision to close Klocker's permanently. This choice has been incredibly difficult, but in light of the recent shooting, continued violence, theft and losses it has become clear that closing is the only responsible way to ensure everyone's safety," a restaurant spokesman told News Tuesday night. Myrtle Beach man accused of pointing gun at kids playing hide-and-seek in his yard The establishment remained open until 11 p.m. Jotham Simmons of Myrtle Beach died after a shooting early Monday morning along Highway 17 Bypass in Socastee, the Horry County Coroner's Office said. It happened about 2:20 a.m. inside the business, Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard Said. Simmons was taken to South Strand's emergency department, where he died about an hour later. A police report obtained by News13 Monday afternoon indicated that when officers got to the bar they found an unconscious man on the floor. However, bar patrons told officers the man had not been shot and that he was intoxicated and had fallen. In the lengthy statement, Klocker's spokesperson said several steps had been taken to enhance security. The person did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation. "We have always stood firmly against illegal activity and have done everything we could to safeguard this business and the people connected to it," the statement said. "We reached out to law enforcement, invited officers to stop by, added cameras, improved lighting and hired security for busier nights." While officers were investigating, the report said another call came in saying that another person had arrived at some location and claimed that they had been shot. The location was redacted in the report. Investigators also found blood near the front door exit and in the parking area. No arrests have been made, and Horry County police are continuing to investigate. The area is known for gun violence that dates back to at least 2015. A Myrtle Beach man was charged with murder in October 2023 after two people were shot outside Barfields Bar and Grill. Kvon Tyrese Lawhorn, 24, allegedly shot and killed Starquan Washington, 23, of Longs, and wounded another person. Starquan Washington's aunt Cassandra Strothers shared her thoughts with News13 Tuesday evening about the closure. "I think that them closing down was an excellent idea," she said. "I feel like it's something that should have been done a while back. I think they should have taken more precautionary measures to ensure that nobody got hurt on their property, especially when after my nephew was killed last year."   Strothers says while these businesses can open elsewhere, those who have lost their lives to gun violence can never get that back. "So after it goes down one time, that should be it," she said. "There shouldn't be a second time, a third time, until somebody loses their life before they decide to do something about it. Something has to be done to prevent just what we're seeing right now."