Washington : A young white gunman on Thursday sprayed bullets at worshippers in a historic black church in the US state of South Carolina in a “hate” crime, killing the pastor-cum-state senator besides eight others in one of the state’s worst mass shootouts.
Members at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston had gathered for a prayer meeting when gunfire erupted in the 19th century building, raising racial tensions in the country that has recently witnessed a spate of killings of unarmed black men by white police officers. The killings had led to widespread protests and riots besides a national debate on race.
The suspect — a clean-shaven man, about 21 years old, with a small, slender built – has been taken into custody. Earlier, there was a statewide search for him and helicopters seen hovering above the area.
A woman survivor told family members that the gunman initially sat down in the church for a bit before standing up and opening fire. The gunman reportedly told the woman he was letting her live so she could tell everyone else what happened.
South Carolina Governor Indian-American Nikki Haley said her family was praying for the victims and families touched by the senseless tragedy. “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,” she said in a statement. “Please join us in lifting up the victims and their families with our love and prayers.”
Charleston is known locally as “The Holy City,” due to its large number of churches and historical mix of immigrant ethnic groups that have brought a variety of creeds to the city on the Atlantic coast. Charleston is also famous for its cobblestone streets, Southern cuisine and beaches and islands.