A Shooting at Historic Charleston AME Church—9 dead
9
African-American victims were killed in Charleston on Wednesday night after a
fatal church shooting by a white gunman who officials have recently named as
Dylann Storm Roof.
The suspect,
Dylann Storm Roof, is currently wanted by the police. Police have described him
as being 21 years old and 5'9” with a slender build. He also has sandy blond
hair in a bowl cut style. These images released in a flier from the police were
taken from security footage. The flier also shows the black Hyundai sedan
belonging the the suspect that was his alleged escape vehicle.
In addition to
serving as the church's pastor, one of the victims, Reverend Clementa Pinckney
was also politician. He spent his last day campaigning with Democratic
candidate, Hilary Clinton. The church's website says, “Rev. Pinckney was
elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1996 at the age of
twenty-three. In 2000, he was elected to the State Senate at the age of
twenty-seven. He is one of the youngest persons and the youngest
African-American in South Carolina to be elected to the State Legislature.” Pinckney
was still representing the 45th district in the Senate at the time
of his death. Amongst the bereaved are his wife Jennifer and their two
children, Eliana and Malana.
Emanuel African
Methodist Episcopal Church is known for its historic roots. One of the church's
founders, Denmark Vessey began organizing a major slave uprising in 1821 in
Charleston, but the plan was later discovered in 1822, causing it to never take
place. Black churches were later outlawed in 1834, so the congregation moved
worship underground until the ban was lifted in 1865 after the Civil War.
Throughout its expansive history, the church has had visits from many prominent
African American leaders such as Booker T. Washington (1909) and Martin Luther
King, Jr. (1962).
In a press conference
held by the police after the shooting, South Carolina Police Chief Gregory
Mullen said, "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this was a hate
crime." At the same conference, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley agreed saying,
“The only reason someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is
out of hate. It is the most dastardly act that one could possibly imagine.” A
hate crime investigation has been launched by the Department of Justice, FBI
and US Attorney's Office.
-Matré Grant
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