Thursday, 18 June 2015

Charleston church shooting: 9 killed in what officials call a hate crime

olice and EMT fireman outside the historic Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church where a gunman opened fire on a prayer meeting killing nine people on June 17, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina. Police believe the attack is a hate crime and are searching for a young white man believed to be the only shooter. (Photo by Richard Ellis/Getty Images)
A white man walked into a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina, and opened fire during a Bible study class, killing nine people Wednesday evening.
The suspect was still at large early Thursday morning. And the shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest AME church in the South, is being investigated as a hate crime.
"The only reason someone would walk into a church and shoot people that were praying is hate," said Charleston Mayor Joe Riley.
Eight churchgoers died at the scene; a ninth at a hospital, police said.
Officials wouldn't say how many people were at the Bible study during the shooting. There were survivors, said Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen, but he didn't elaborate.

CNN

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