Charleston shooting: Hostage situation ends, one dies

The hostage situation in Charleston has come to an end post the armed 'disgruntled employee' was shot and critically wounded by the police.

According to the Independent, "Police officers engaged for hours in a tense standoff with the still-unidentified shooter, who holed up with multiple hostages inside a downtown Charleston restaurant."

The gunman was transported to a local hospital in critical condition

Hostages were rescued safely and have been freed. One person has died.

The hostage-taker was a dishwasher, said the reports.

Earlier, The Charleston police confirmed that a "disgruntled employee" was holding hostages after shooting at one person at Virginia's On King restaurant in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.

The shooting was reported on King Street, a popular tourist area on Thursday afternoon (Local time).

City's mayor Tecklenburg has denied terming it an act of terrorism.

"This is not an act of terrorism. This is not a hate crime. It is a disgruntled employee," Tecklenburg said.