‘Senseless, Unfathomable Hate Crime’: Cops Confirm 9 Dead In Charleston Historic Black Church Attack
Nine people are confirmed dead, including a state lawmaker, after a shooter attacked a historically Black church in Charleston, South Carolina.
At about 9:00 PM members of a bible study group in Charleston’s historic Mother Emanuel AME Church became victims of a mass shooting. Police say the shooter is still at large. They describe him as a 21-year old white male of slender build with sandy blond hair.Â
UPDATE:Â Charleston Police Release Photo Of Suspected Shooter Who Killed 6 Women, 3 Men At Historic Church
Among the dead are Reverend Clementa Pinckney, a 41-year old South Carolina Democratic state senator and the pastor of the 19th century church.
MSNBC reporter Benjy Sarlin was on the scene:
Intense prayer session by church, people shouting Lord’s praises. “Amen” and then applause. pic.twitter.com/QezCbvmHH6
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) June 18, 2015
“I do believe this was a hate crime,” Chief of Police Gregory Mullen (photo, top) said. In a press conference (video) shortly after 1:00 AM this morning, Mullen described the attack as “senseless” and “unfathomable.”
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley called it “an unspeakable and heartbreaking tragedy in this most historic church, an evil and hateful person took the lives of citizens who had come to worship and pray together.”
“Keep this community together, God!” pic.twitter.com/PLz6GegO3Z
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) June 18, 2015
Police are on the scene and using helicopters to search for the suspect.
Even bigger prayer circle now. “If we’re not safe in the church God you TELL US where we are safe!” heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/LNMbjurYLX
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) June 18, 2015
A bomb threat, now over, forced police to ask nearby residents to evacuate.
Live video:
Best live coverage of #CharlestonShooting http://t.co/ViqNGeIYnd
— Rob Tomorrow (@robtomorrow) June 18, 2015
Many on social media are demanding the press and police label this a terrorist attack, stating had the shooter not been white it would have been.
Some responses via Twitter:
Watch whiteness work. The shooter will be described as mentally unstable from a troubled family, but not a terrorist. #CharlestonShooting
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 18, 2015
A guy just shot up a Black church cos he’s prob mentally ill & from a troubled family & not a terrorist. Cos he’s white. #CharlestonShooting
— Nazeem Hussain (@nazeem_hussain) June 18, 2015
#CharlestonShooting should be described by media as a terrorist attack & an assassination of a black political leader. #BlackLivesMatter
— Derrick O’Keefe (@derrickokeefe) June 18, 2015
The site of #CharlestonShooting is oldest black church in South. How many of its members have been lost to terrorist acts over the years?
— Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) June 18, 2015
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