GOOSE CREEK, S.C.—According to Captain John Grainger with the Goose Creek Police Department, a hostage situation that occurred at the Royal Lanes bowling alley has ended peacefully.
Police were dispatched to the bowling alley around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in reference to shots fired inside the manager’s office.
“When they arrived they determined that the owner of the bowling alley, his office had been entered without permission by an unnamed gunman,” stated Grainger.
Witnesses say there were about 25 people inside the bowling alley when the shot was fired.
“We were getting ready to bowl and all of a sudden we heard a loud shot, and we all just kind of froze. Then I smelled the residue, and I knew it was a gunshot,” stated Jordan Powell who was bowling at the time of the shooting.
Powell said after the shot was fired she started yelling for people to get out of the building.
“We were all just standing there. We were confused and trying to see what was going on,” stated Cach Morris, who was also inside the bowling alley at the time of the incident.
Morris said while inside the alley, he saw several employees going back and forth to the manager’s office.
“One of them opened the door, and they just started screaming, ‘Call 911. Everyone leave,’” Morris explained. “I was pretty worried. I got my knife out just in case.”
Grainger said the gunman held the owner of the bowling alley hostage for several minutes and would not allow him to leave the office.
“Within a few minutes, the manager was able to leave,” Grainger stated. “One shot was fired inside the office.”
The SWAT was on scene to negotiate the suspect’s surrender. Police say he eventually gave up.
“I was terrified,” added Powell. “It was just a real shock I guess, and I’m just thankful that he didn’t come outside and shooting at everybody else in a bowling alley, so it could have definitely been a whole lot worse.”
Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident. At this time, the motive for the shooting is unclear.
