1 dead after hostage situation at Naval Weapons Station

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A lockdown at the Naval Weapons Station has been lifted following a hostage situation in the housing area at the base.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the base around 10:45 a.m. for a suspect who barricaded himself inside a home while armed with a firearm.

Officials with Joint Base Charleston said a 6-week-old, who allegedly belongs to a former colleague, was also inside the house. Members of the Goose Creek Police Department eventually entered the residence and found the suspect with life-threatening injuries.

Capt. James Emerson with the Goose Creek Police Department said officers set a perimeter around the Knutson Street house. When they entered, two shots were heard upstairs.

He said the suspect was found with self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head.

The infant was not harmed and returned to its mother.

The Child Development Center, Marrington Elementary and Marrington Middle School were locked down, and residents living on base housing were told to shelter in place.

While events leading up to the incident are currently unknown, JBC officials said lockdown protocols have been lifted.

“We take any threat to the safety and security of our installation seriously, and as such, we activated our established procedures to ensure the safety of our personnel and the surrounding community,” said the 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs office.

The incident remains under investigation.

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