quoteSeveral people were killed in a shooting at an historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina, a source close to the investigation told CNN.
The shooter is still at large.
The shooting took place Wednesday evening at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest AME church in the South.
Police haven’t said how many people have been shot. But the source who spoke to CNN said several bodies were in the church that were yet to be identified.
“It’s really bad. It’s a very bad scene,” local pastor Thomas Dixon said.
“Apparently the person just entered the church and opened fire. That part has not been fully articulated on what happened yet … they are still looking for the suspect.”
Police said the suspect in the shooting is a clean-shaven white man in his 20s, with a slender build. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans and boots.
Absolutely horrific. What a terrible, terrible act from a despicable human being. I hope they catch the terrorist alive rather than giving him an easy out in death.
How horrible and terribly sad. Those innocent people. I wonder if he knew his victims or if this was some random act.
I’m not sure I want the guy caught alive. I understand the “easy out” concern, but it might be even harder on the families and survivors knowing that this evil person gets to live and breathe while their murdered loves ones do not.
OMG, so horrible! So sad for the families of the victims and the entire congregation. I hope they catch this coward as soon as possible. Why would anyone do such a thing? Nut jobs with guns. Never a good combo.
"Sylvia Johnson, a cousin of church shooting victim Pastor Clementa Pinckney says she spoke with one of the survivors “and she said that he had reloaded five different times… and he just said ‘I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go.’”
I feel nothing, but great sadness. This young man is probably suffering from mental illness. Early twenties is a common age for onset. What type of cold, calculating killer sits through one hour of Bible study before committing his crime? I hope the families can draw upon their faith to give them strength in dealing with this tragedy.
I am a bit perturbed by the news coverage, or lack thereof. It took many hours to even identify the shooter as a White guy. If this had been a Muslim who shot up a white/Jewish place of worship, I daresay there would’ve been more details and coverage.
I just looked up his FB page, and most of his friends are Black. What is odd, is that he only as 82 friends. That is a very low number for someone his age. I am sure we will soon hear, he was quiet, he was a loner, socially awkward, …
So why on earth would his father give him a gun?!?
I also have a question about the coverage. Why is the license plate called “distinctive,” but they don’t say what makes it so? They’ve released the license number.
