Bill Mannix / The scene of this reported shooting at the Myrtle Beach Mall on Jan. 8, 2015.

A 78-year-old Little River woman was shot and killed Friday afternoon at the Myrtle Beach Mall one day before her birthday, according to Tamara Willard with the Horry County Coroner's Office.

Frances Mae Davis, who went by May, was shot just after noon on Friday, Jan. 8, Willard said.



Davis was found around 12:15 p.m. by her daughter, slumped over in the passenger seat of a car, according to Lt. Raul Denis, with Horry County police. She died at around 1 p.m. at Grand Strand Hospital.

The daughter had briefly gone in to the mall, Denis said.

Luther Wells, Davis' son-in-law, said that his wife was shopping for Davis' birthday, which is tomorrow, but Davis was tired and was waiting in the car.

Wells said when his wife got to the car, she found her mother slumped over and blood in the car. He said she was shot in the neck and that her purse was missing.



Denis said they have secured the car she was in and are investigating.

He added that so far there are no witnesses or suspects. Detectives are working with mall officials to obtain any surveillance footage.

Denis said that the public shouldn't be concerned for their safety and that this was an isolated incident.

Davis was the mother of three children and had five grandchildren and seven great-grand children, Willard said.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Tip Line at 843-915-8477 (843-915-TIPS).