Police: NC hotel standoff ends with man dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound
A South Carolina man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a daylong standoff at a Holiday Inn Express in Kings Mountain, police said Saturday night.
After nearly eight hours of negotiating, officers heard a gunshot, entered the room and found the body of 38-year-old Casey Justin Whitman of Inman, police officials said at 7:15 p.m.
“Lifesaving attempts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene,” according to a city of Kings Mountain news release. “Immediate family has been notified, as we send our deepest condolences.”
Officers went to the hotel just after 8 a.m. to check on Whitman’s wellbeing after he had been reported missing, police said.
When the incident began, police evacuated surrounding areas in the hotel, according to the city statement. They negotiated with Whitman throughout the day.
Kings Mountain police and Cleveland County deputies remained at the scene late Saturday afternoon.
As a precaution, police closed Woodlake Parkway on both sides of the hotel. The road reopened Saturday night, “and the hotel property has been deemed safe,” police said.
Police thanked the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and Cleveland County EMS for their assistance.
If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
This story was originally published August 9, 2025 at 4:58 PM.