Chef Shane Whiddon Dead After Shooting at Virginia’s on King

Virginia’s on King chef Shane Whiddon is dead after the lunchtime shooting that took place at the restaurant on Thursday, August 24. Though many in the food and beverage community speculated that Whiddon was the victim of the violent act, Charleston City Paper reported that the deputy coroner officially released his name last night.

Customers who were in Virginia’s on King at the time of the assailant’s arrival yesterday said that a man wearing an apron charged into the dining room with a revolver. Many of them were able to escape out of the restaurant before it turned into a three-hour hostage situation, which led to the police shooting the gunman. His name has not been released, and he remains in critic condition.

Whiddon joined Virginia’s on King in 2016. When he took over the kitchen, Virginia Bennett, the inspiration and namesake of Virginia’s on King, said, “I’ve been impressed with the way Chef Whiddon has respected our techniques while bringing an innovative new mindset to the kitchen.” Previously the chef worked at Union Provisions, Georgia resort The Sea Island Company, and Charleston Grill.

A GoFundMe has been created to support the Whiddon family during this time. Many of Whiddon’s former colleagues and other Charleston food and beverage employees have expressed condolences through social media.

• One Dead After ‘Disgruntled Employee’ Fires Shots in Charleston Restaurant [ECHS]
• Virginia's Chef Shane Whiddon Is Dead Following an Altercation With a Suspected Disgruntled Employee [CP]
• One Dead, Suspect Shot By Police Following Hostage Situation at Downtown Charleston Restaurant [P&C]
• Virginia’s on King [Official]