COLUMBIA (WLTX) - A hostage situation at the McDonald's on Decker Boulevard ended with the suspect in custody Sunday night.
Sheriff Leon Lott says authorities were able to peacefully get 26-year-old Courtney Wood out of the restaurant before anyone was injured.
We're told he held his ex-girlfriend hostage inside, but she was able to escape out of a window.
Sheriff Lott says one McDonald's employee was not able to escape with the rest and hid under a table during the ordeal. Investigators said that Wood did not know the woman was inside the whole time.
Authorities say they entered the restaurant and were able to get the woman out safely and then went back to talk Wood out. They say he surrendered peacefully and will be charged with kidnapping, among other things.
The incident started in Sumter at 7:30 p.m. That's when Police Chief Patty Patterson says Wood shot his ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend, Travis Williams, at the Archdale Apartments on Bultman Drive in Sumter. Williams was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay.
After the man was shot, Chief Patterson says Wood took Williams' car, held his ex-girlfriend hostage, and fled to Richland County.
That's when authorities say a SLED agent spotted the car that Chief Patterson had described on a BOLO. That agent chased Wood to the McDonald's at 2230 Decker Boulevard.
Chief Patterson says Wood was out on bond from a trespassing charge in Sumter earlier this week.
She expects him to be charged with kidnapping, assault and battery with intent to kill, breaking and entering, and vehicle theft.
Sheriff Lott says the suspect went into the restaurant armed with a pistol and attempted to hold people hostage.
No one was physically injured.
3/31/2008 1:18:01 PM
