Nine dead in shooting at South Carolina black church

Published 6:49 am Thursday, June 18, 2015

Police are searching for a gunman who opened fire Wednesday night at a historic African-American church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. City officials said nine people were killed and others injured.

“I do believe this is a hate crime,” Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen said at a late night news conference, without explaining the basis for his conclusion.

Police said the victims had gathered Wednesday night in the church for a prayer meeting when the shooting occurred. Police are now searching for the suspect, described as a white male in his early 20s, who is clean-shaven and has a small build. Police said he was wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans and Timberland boots. He is believe to be the only shooter, Mullen said.

“This is the most unspeakable and heartbreaking tragedy,” Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley said. “People in prayer, coming together, praying and worshiping God, to have an awful person come in and shoot them is inexplicable, obviously the most intolerable and unbelievable act possible.”

The “message is there was one hateful person who did this dastardly deed,” he added.

The victims have not been identified. Police said there were survivors but did not say how many or what condition they were in.

Police said the shooting occurred about 9 p.m. at the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church between Henrietta and Calhoun streets near Marion Square in downtown Charleston.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said in a statement Wednesday night that she is praying for the victims and their families.

“While we do not yet know all of the details, we do know that we’ll never understand what motivates anyone to enter one of our places of worship and take the life of another,” she said. “Please join us in lifting up the victims and their families with our love and prayers.”

Armed police wearing bullet-proof vests swarmed the scene to search for the suspect. Police told local reporters to back away, citing a bomb threat, the Charleston Post and Courier reported.

Emanuel AME Church has been a landmark in Charleston for more than 150 years. Often called, “Mother Emanuel,” it is one of the largest and oldest black congregations in the region, according to its website. The pastor, Clementa Pinckney, who is also a state senator, was in the church at the time of the shooting, a Statehouse Democratic caucus member told the Post and Courier. His condition is not yet known.