Nine Killed in ‘Hate Crime’ Shooting at Charleston Church
Police still looking for suspect in attack at historic black church in South Carolina
A shooting on Wednesday night at a historic African-American church in downtown Charleston left at least nine people dead.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated June 18, 2015 2:56 a.m. ET
CHARLESTON, S.C.—A white man opened fire during a prayer meeting inside a historic black church in downtown Charleston on Wednesday night, killing nine people in an assault that authorities described as a hate crime. The shooter remained at large Thursday morning.
The shooting took place at the Emanuel AME Church, Police Chief Greg Mullen said. He said there were survivors, but wouldn’t say how many, or how many were inside at the time of the shooting. He also wouldn’t confirm whether the pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, was one of the victims.
Mr. Mullen described the suspect as a white male in his early 20s. He said he believed it was a hate crime, but wouldn’t elaborate.
“The only reason that someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of hate,” said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley. “It is the most dastardly act that one could possibly imagine, and we will bring that person to justice.…This is one hateful person.”
The attack comes two months after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Walter Scott, by a white police officer in neighboring North Charleston, which sparked major protests and highlighted racial tensions in the area. The officer has been charged with murder.
In a statement, Gov. Nikki Haley asked South Carolinians to pray for the victims and their families and decried violence on religious places.
“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,” Mrs. Haley said.
Soon after Wednesday night’s shooting, a group of pastors huddled together praying in a circle across the street.
Community organizer Christopher Cason said he felt certain the shootings were racially motivated.
“I am very tired of people telling me that I don’t have the right to be angry,” Mr. Cason said. “I am very angry right now.”
Police moved members of the media back away from the site because of what they called an “imminent” threat but didn’t release any details.
The campaign of Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush sent out an email saying that because of the shooting, the candidate had canceled an event planned in the city Thursday.
The Emmanuel AME church is a historic African-American church that traces its roots to 1816, when several churches split from Charleston’s Methodist Episcopal church.
One of its founders, Denmark Vesey, tried to organize a slave revolt in 1822. He was caught, and white landowners had his church burned in revenge. Parishioners worshiped underground until after the Civil War.
The shooting happened the day before the eighth anniversary of a fire at a furniture store that killed nine Charleston firefighters.
A shooting on Wednesday night at a historic African-American church in downtown Charleston left at least nine people dead.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated June 18, 2015 2:56 a.m. ET
CHARLESTON, S.C.—A white man opened fire during a prayer meeting inside a historic black church in downtown Charleston on Wednesday night, killing nine people in an assault that authorities described as a hate crime. The shooter remained at large Thursday morning.
The shooting took place at the Emanuel AME Church, Police Chief Greg Mullen said. He said there were survivors, but wouldn’t say how many, or how many were inside at the time of the shooting. He also wouldn’t confirm whether the pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, was one of the victims.
Mr. Mullen described the suspect as a white male in his early 20s. He said he believed it was a hate crime, but wouldn’t elaborate.
“The only reason that someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of hate,” said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley. “It is the most dastardly act that one could possibly imagine, and we will bring that person to justice.…This is one hateful person.”
The attack comes two months after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Walter Scott, by a white police officer in neighboring North Charleston, which sparked major protests and highlighted racial tensions in the area. The officer has been charged with murder.
In a statement, Gov. Nikki Haley asked South Carolinians to pray for the victims and their families and decried violence on religious places.
“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,” Mrs. Haley said.
Soon after Wednesday night’s shooting, a group of pastors huddled together praying in a circle across the street.
Community organizer Christopher Cason said he felt certain the shootings were racially motivated.
“I am very tired of people telling me that I don’t have the right to be angry,” Mr. Cason said. “I am very angry right now.”
Police moved members of the media back away from the site because of what they called an “imminent” threat but didn’t release any details.
The campaign of Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush sent out an email saying that because of the shooting, the candidate had canceled an event planned in the city Thursday.
The Emmanuel AME church is a historic African-American church that traces its roots to 1816, when several churches split from Charleston’s Methodist Episcopal church.
One of its founders, Denmark Vesey, tried to organize a slave revolt in 1822. He was caught, and white landowners had his church burned in revenge. Parishioners worshiped underground until after the Civil War.
The shooting happened the day before the eighth anniversary of a fire at a furniture store that killed nine Charleston firefighters.
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