Ammo stored in toaster oven ignites at assisted living site, South Carolina cops say

A bizarre instance of a toaster oven loaded with bullets is cited as the cause of gunshots heard at a South Carolina assisted living community, police say.

No one was struck by gunfire. However, the ammunition ignited a fire, resulting in one person being hospitalized for smoke inhalation, the Greenwood Police Department said in a news release.

It happened shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, at Morningside of Greenwood, an assisted living facility on Enterprise Court in Greenwood. That’s about 80 miles northwest of uptown Columbia.

In addition to a fire alarm, officers were told residents heard “possible gunshots.”

“Officers found a small fire inside one resident’s room; the resident was found unconscious and taken to the hospital,” police said.

“At this time, it appears the fire was started because the resident placed several rounds of ammunition into a toaster oven causing the ammunition to discharge and making employees believe that a shooter was on the property.”

The fire was contained to the resident’s room and “was quickly extinguished,” officials said.

“No other injuries were reported and all residents were safely accounted for by the staff.”

Investigators did not identify the resident and did not say why the ammunition was placed in the toaster oven.

This story was originally published November 29, 2021 at 7:56 AM with the headline "Ammo stored in toaster oven ignites at assisted living site, South Carolina cops say."