Shooter Down Following Hostage Situation in Downtown Charleston

At least one person was shot dead in Charleston on Thursday afternoon when a disgruntled employee attacked a restaurant downtown, according to The Post and Courier. Employees were barricaded in Virginia’s restaurant for several hours after the shooter reportedly—dressed like kitchen staff and holding a revolver—walked to the front door, locked it, and said, “I am the new king of Charleston.” According to the newspaper, he told everyone to get down and move to the back. He allegedly shot and killed one person during the event. Police reported that the shooter was “down” at about 3 p.m. He was critically injured by police. Mayor John Tecklenburg said on Thursday: “This was not an act of terrorism. This was not a hate crime. This was a disgruntled employee.”