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Suspect found dead after hostage standoff in Sumter County, sheriff says
South CarolinaGDELTGDELT event0% biasedTue, May 19, 2026, 12:00 AM
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Suspect found dead after hostage standoff in Sumter County, sheriff says.Suspect found dead after hostage standoff in Sumter County, sheriff says SUMTER COUNTY, S.C.(WACH) — A hostage situation involving a barricaded suspect ended Monday afternoon in Wedgefield after two hostages escaped safely and the suspect was later found dead, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.Sheriff Anthony Dennis said deputies responded around 12:18 p.m.to Sally Street after receiving a report that two people were being held hostage inside a home.RELATED | US Marshals, Sumter emergency response team remain after hostage situation A relative of one of the hostages reported receiving a call saying the victims were being held against their will by Anthony Lee Safrit, authorities said.The caller also said Safrit had open warrants, threatened to kill others at the home, and had a handgun.Officials said the relative reported family members inside the home were being restrained.Sheriff Dennis activated the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team and requested help from the United States Marshals Service, which had contact with the suspect before.Authorities said deputies and marshals repeatedly called for Safrit to surrender after arriving at the scene.An 87-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were able to leave the home safely, according to officials.After receiving no response from Safrit, the emergency response team searched the home but did not find him at first.Authorities later used an unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle to find a bunker beneath the garage at the back of the home where Safrit was believed to be hiding.Deputies reported hearing what sounded like a gunshot while approaching the bunker.Using a snake camera, investigators saw Safrit inside the bunker with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and a handgun nearby, officials said.Emergency medical personnel later confirmed that Safrit was dead after he was removed from the bunker.Sheriff Dennis said no deputies or marshals were injured, and the public was never in danger during the incident.At the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office's request, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division responded to investigate the incident.