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Disgruntled restaurant employee kills 1, shot by police, in Charleston SC Disgruntled restaurant employee kills 1, shot by police, in Charleston SC
(35 minutes later)
One person has been killed during a hostage situation at a downtown restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina. The attacker, said to be a disgruntled employee, was shot by police and is in critical condition.One person has been killed during a hostage situation at a downtown restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina. The attacker, said to be a disgruntled employee, was shot by police and is in critical condition.
According to local reports the shooter was a dish washer at Virginia's on King, a restaurant on King Street in Charleston, and the deceased victim was a chef at the establishment.
Charleston Police initially told residents to avoid the King Street area via Twitter as they blocked roads to motorists and pedestrians due to an “active shooter” at downtown restaurant.Charleston Police initially told residents to avoid the King Street area via Twitter as they blocked roads to motorists and pedestrians due to an “active shooter” at downtown restaurant.
Emergency responders including a SWAT team swarmed the downtown restaurant, Virginia's on King, where the shooter reportedly entered, locked himself in, and told patrons he was the “new king of Charleston”. Emergency responders including a SWAT and bomb disposal team swarmed the restaurant, Virginia's on King, where the shooter reportedly entered through the back kitchen, locked the front door, and told patrons he was the “new king of Charleston”.
Charleston PD confirmed the incident is an active hostage situation by a disgruntled employee and “not an act of terrorism,” adding that “negotiations with the shooter” are underway. Patrons were told to get out by the assailant, however one restaurant worker was held hostage inside.
Police also confirmed one shooting victim, who officers were able to recover and transport to hospital. Spokesman Charles Francis told residents to avoid the area, adding that SWAT and hostage negotiators are on the scene.   Throughout the three-hour ordeal Charleston PD confirmed the incident as an active hostage situation by a disgruntled employee and “not an act of terrorism”.
The shooter remains inside the building with “a couple hostages,” according to Francis. Paramedics were seen wheeling one person out of the restaurant on a stretcher. Police confirmed one shooting victim, who officers were able to recover and transport to hospital but who later died.
Customers Tom and Patsy Plant told The Post and Courier of Charleston they were eating at Virginia’s restaurant and saw a man come out of the kitchen with a gun in his hand and say “there’s a new boss in town.” As the incident came to a close, paramedics were seen wheeling a person, now known to be the injured shooter, out of the restaurant on a stretcher.
Local business were evacuated and the Charleston School of Law campus was put on lockdown, as responders worked to resolve the situation. Police spokesman Charles Francis told residents to avoid the area while negotiators tried to resolve the situation and free the small number of hostages.
Authorities were called to a possible shooting on King Street just after noon, local time, according to Francis. The street consists of a row of restaurants and shops, and is frequently visited by tourists. Local business were evacuated and the nearby Charleston School of Law campus was put on lockdown while responders worked on the scene.
Authorities were called to a possible shooting on King Street at 12:17pm, local time, Thursday. The street consists of a busy row of restaurants and shops, and is frequently visited by tourists and locals alike.