Charleston Police Shoot Suspect, Ending Restaurant Hostage Incident

One person has died and a suspect has been shot by police and transported to a hospital after holding multiple people hostage for hours inside Virginia's on King restaurant in Charleston, SC.

Around 2:30 p.m., a loud boom, that did not necessarily sound like a gun shot, rang in the area. A person was transported out of Virginia's on a stretcher. Shortly after, police began breaking down the perimeters and allowing people closer to the scene.

A shooting was first reported at 12:17 p.m. Thursday. 

"This was not an act of terrorism," said Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg. "This was not a hate crime. This was a disgruntled employee."

The Charleston Post & Courier reports Peter Siegert, 73, and his son Peter Siegert IV, 45, both of Maryland, were eating at Virginia's when two waitresses and three kitchen staff members marched through the restaurant and out the front door without saying anything.

An older black man wearing an apron and dressed like a kitchen staff member walked through the front door holding a small caliber revolver. He locked the door and said “I am the new king of Charleston.”

It is reported the gunman was a dishwasher who was fired from the restaurant. He reportedly came back and shot and killed the chef.