1 dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound, 2 freed after hostage situation in Wedgefield

Two people were safely freed and a suspect was confirmed dead after a hostage situation on Monday.

At approximately 12:18 p.m. on May 18, Sumter County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of two people being held hostage at a residence on Sally Street in the Wedgefield area.

According to Mark Bordeaux, public information officer for Sumter County Sheriff's Office, a relative of the hostages told deputies that the suspect, Anthony Lee Safrit, was armed with a handgun and had threatened to kill others at the residence. They also said Safrit had open warrants.

Sheriff Anthony Dennis activated the Sheriff's Office Emergency Response Team as well as called U.S. Marshals, who had previous contact with Safrit, to assist.

Upon arrival, Safrit was asked numerous times to surrender. The two hostages, an 87-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, were able to flee the residence, Bordeaux said.

After no response from Safrit, SERT conducted a search of the residence and later located Safrit in a "bunker" at the back of the residence below a garage, the location where Safrit was reported to be hiding.

As SERT approached, they heard what sounded like a gunshot. Using a snake camera, authorities were able to view inside the bunker and saw Safrit with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and a handgun nearby, according to Bordeaux.

After removing Safrit from the bunker, EMS on scene confirmed he was deceased.

"From the first deputy to arrive at the scene to the deputies serving in SERT, they all conducted themselves with courage and skill in this very dangerous situation," Dennis said.

He expressed gratitude that the hostages were safely rescued and that no deputies or marshals were harmed.
The public was not in danger during the incident, Bordeax said.

At the request of Dennis, an investigation is ongoing by SLED.