Sgt Billy Squires is the Beaufort County Sheriff's police officer who pointed a gun at two teenage boys on Hilton Head Island [VIDEO]

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has identified Sgt. Billy Squires as the deputy at the center of a disturbing incident on Hilton Head Island, where he allegedly pointed a gun at two teenage boys.

According to officials, the confrontation happened Sunday evening and quickly drew calls from concerned community members reporting a disturbance. When command staff arrived on the scene, they relieved the off-duty deputy of his badge, weapons, and equipment.

In a press release, BCSO confirmed that Squires has been suspended without pay while an Internal Affairs Investigation is underway. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has also been called in to conduct a parallel criminal investigation.

“Deputies are held to a higher standard, as they must abide by all BCSO policies and procedures, both on and off duty,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “The Internal Affairs Investigation could take some time to complete, with multiple people needing to be interviewed.”

Community outrage has been growing since news broke that a deputy allegedly pulled a weapon on teenagers. Video footage from the scene has already begun circulating online, adding to public pressure for accountability.

As of now, Sgt. Billy Squires remains suspended pending the outcome of both investigations.