On August 24, 2017, Anthony Shane Whiddon, 37, was shot and killed while working as the executive chef at Virginia’s on King in Charleston, South Carolina. A former employee, 53-year-old Thomas Demetrius Burns, entered the restaurant around noon armed with a handgun and shot Whiddon. Witnesses said Burns announced there’s a new boss in town before the shooting.

After the killing, Burns held a small number of people hostage inside the restaurant, prompting a police response that included a SWAT team and hostage negotiators. The standoff lasted about three hours; negotiators communicated with Burns before officers shot him and ended the incident. Remaining hostages were released without physical injury. Burns was taken to a hospital in critical condition. No charges have been filed in connection with the case as reported.

If anyone was at Virginia’s on King that day or has information about the events leading up to the shooting, please come forward.