Police in Charleston, South Carolina are responding to an 'active shooter situation'

Police in Charleston, South Carolina, said they were investigating an active shooter situation on Thursday and told residents to avoid the area.

Police described the suspected gunman to local media as a "disgruntled employee" who is holding an unconfirmed number of hostages. Terrorism is not suspected, police said.

It's unclear how many people are injured.

A section of King Street, in the city's central commercial district, was blocked to cars and pedestrians because of the situation, Charleston Police spokesman Charles Francis said in a statement. Few other details were immediately available.