BREAKING: The gunman holding hostages in a Charleston restaurant has been shot by police and is in critical condition, local media reports.
One person was killed during the shooting. All the restaurant employees who were being held hostage have been released.
More on this as it develops.
STORY:
A "disgruntled employee" was holding hostages Thursday after shooting one person at a restaurant in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, officials said.
"This is not act of terrorism," Mayor John Tecklenburg told reporters Thursday. "This is not a hate crime. It's a disgruntled employee who has come on the scene of his employment."
Several hostages are inside the restaurant, spokesman Charles Francis of the Charleston police said during a news conference, describing the scene as an "active shooter situation." The shooting was reported shortly after noon.
Police are asking people to avoid the area near Virginia's on King, a Southern-style restaurant in the heart of downtown.
Still, onlookers could be seen gathering under a light rain and taking photos and video with their cellphones as helicopters buzzed overhead and police snipers took their positions. The Charleston School of Law and other downtown buildings were on lockdown.
An owner of a nearby boutique said the police activity is focused around the restaurant.
"Right now the streets are full of SWAT and police and people heavily armed. They are blocking off the whole block," said Sarah Cobb, owner of MOSA boutique.
Cobb described evacuations of nearby businesses and officers with guns pointed toward the restaurant.
Sandy Troeder, who works at a hair salon across the street from Virginia's, told CNN affiliate WCIV that she saw police and a SWAT team break down the restaurant's door and enter with dogs and machine guns. Police carried a body out, but she couldn't see who it was or if there was blood.
Police later came to the salon and told people to evacuate. Andrew Locke, another salon employee, said the situation was nerve-wracking, especially in trying to take care of customers.
