A gunman who took hostages at a North Carolina CVS pharmacy surrendered to authorities on Friday after a robbery attempt, ABC News reported.
Belmont Police Sgt. John Wilson said the 46-year-old suspect released the store employees that he kept hostage several hours after he tried to rob the store.
Wilson said he is being questioned by police and would face felony charges.
No one was injured during the incident.
Officers arrived at the pharmacy in Belmont -- about 15 miles west of Charlotte -- around 1:45 a.m. and exchanged gunfire with the suspect before realizing he was holding hostages.
Police said the suspect was armed with an SKS rifle and several loaded magazines.
"He started screaming that he had hostages," said Police Chief Charlie Franklin, who said one woman and two men were inside.
While the officers left and called in assistance, nearby police in Gastonia, Gaston County, and Mount Holly surrounded the pharmacy while they negotiated with the gunman.
He finally agreed to release the hostages around 4:00 a.m. and surrendered three hours later after talking with a police negotiator.
"He told hostages he would not harm them, if they just did what he told them," Franklin said.
Authorities said the gunman was calm as he exited the store.
"He laid the weapon down on the counter and came out with his hands in the air," Franklin said.
A live video feed enabled officials to monitor the situation inside while negotiating with the man.
"It gave us insight into what area of the store he was in and what state of mind he was in," Franklin added, saying they witnessed the man swallow several prescription pills he stole from the pharmacy. He was not certain which kind of pills he took.
