Police shoot, critically wound 'disgruntled employee' who held h - KPTV
(CNN) (CNN) (CNN) -- A "disgruntled employee" who shot and killed a person and wounded another at a Charleston, South Carolina, restaurant was shot and critically wounded, Mayor John Tecklenburg told reporters Thursday . Several hostages were safely released. "This is not an act of terrorism. This is not a hate crime. It's a disgruntled employee who has come on the scene of his employment," Mayor John Tecklenburg told reporters Thursday . Charleston police described the scene as an " active shooter situation " Thursday afternoon , a spokesman said. Police are asking people to avoid the area near Virginia's on King, a Southern-style restaurant in the heart of downtown Charleston. Several hostages are holed up inside the restaurant, spokesman Charles Francis of the Charleston police said during a press conference. An owner of a nearby boutique said the police activity is focused around the restaurant. "Right now the streets are full of SWAT and...