Charleston Shooting: Suspect Critically Hurt; Gunshot Victim Dies

CHARLESTON, SC — An angry restaurant worker who walked into Virginia On King's in Charleston, South Carolina, on Thursday, shot someone and then took a hostage was shot by police and remains in critical condition, officials said.

The disgruntled worker shot someone and took a hostage, Mayor John Tecklenburg said. Dispatchers were alerted around 12:17 p.m.

The hostage was safely removed from the building, Tecklenburg later said in a statement. The victim shot by the restaurant worker was taken from the scene and later died, he said. Details, including the person's name, gender and condition, weren't immediately available.

"This was a tragic case of a disturbed individual, I think, with a history of some mental health challenges," Tecklenburg said at a news conference.

Tecklenburg has said terrorism was ruled out. (For more information on the restaurant shooting and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"This is not an act of terrorism. This is not a hate crime," he said.

Just after 1 p.m. Thursday, Charleston police tweeted out that people should avoid the 400 block of King Street, located a few blocks away from Emanuel AME church, where nine black members were killed by Dylann Roof, a white man, in June 2015. He was sentenced to death.

The Associated Press reported that dozens of police officers rushed to the scene, located near a stretch of popular restaurants and shops. SWAT teams a bomb disposal unit and crisis negotiators were sent to the area.

Traffic in the area was closed, a dispatcher said. The dispatcher was unable to confirm details about the suspect, including a description.

John Aquino, owner of Virginia On King's restaurant where the gunman took hostages, told WCSC-TV he was told the suspect is a dishwasher who was angry with a chef and shot him. Aquino said he believes the gunman was fired and sought revenge.

King btwn Calhoun & Morris blocked to motorist & pedestrian traffic active shooter in 400 block of King people to avoid the area.
— Charleston P.D. (@CharlestonPD) August 24, 2017

Photo credit: Mic Smith/Associated Press