Featured Image Credit: Dustin Waters via Charleston City Paper
It wasn’t that long ago when we were celebrating earning our title for being the #1 city in the U.S by Travel and Leisure. So it seems unreal that just yesterday our eyes and ears were glued to the news and social media after word broke out of hostage situation and a shooting taking place at a popular restaurant on King Street – Virginia’s on King. In the end, chef Shane Whiddon was killed and the shooter currently remains in critical condition.
Before joining Virginia’s on King in 2016, Whiddon worked at Union Provisions, Georgia resort The Sea Island Company, and Charleston Grill.
The owners of Virginia’s on King, Bennett Hospitality, released a statement on yesterday’s shooting and hostage situation:
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by what transpired yesterday at our restaurant Virginia’s on King. We are devastated by the passing of Shane Whiddon, our beloved and well-respected chef and friend. Our thoughts and prayers from Holy City Hospitality and Bennett Hospitality are with Shane’s family, our work family, and the customers and employees who are affected by this awful tragedy. We’re extremely grateful for the incredible teamwork of the many law enforcement agencies and the Mayor of Charleston in handling yesterday’s events. We would also like to thank the Pastor and staff at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church for all the support they provided law enforcement and our staff. The outpouring of support from the community has been remarkable and for that we are very grateful.” —Managing Director of Holy City Hospitality Marty Wall
Because we are such a close-knit community, it always hits home when we lose one of our family members. The shooting at AME church shook the nation, the state of South Carolina, and especially our city that we consider a little slice of heaven.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victim. In this time of sadness, it’s a comforting feeling to know that we do have each other.
A GoFundMe has been created to support the Whiddon family during this time.