Prime suspect in ‘hate crime’ killing of 9 in Charleston is arrested

The man suspected of shooting nine worshippers dead at a church in South Carolina has been arrested, media reports say. Dylann Roof, 21, has reportedly been taken into custody in Shelby, North Carolina. A manhunt was launched for the suspect, who sat with church-goers at a prayer meeting for an hour before spraying the group with bullets. The massacre happened at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in downtown Charleston at around 9pm (local time) on Wednesday.

This is 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.

Charleston Mayor Joe Riley

The gunman was seen leaving the scene of the massacre in a black four-door sedan. Police said eight people died at the scene and a ninth victim died later in hospital. A tenth victim is being treated in hospital. The deceased were six females and three males, authorities said. A hate crime investigation has been launched into the shooting. The attack came two months after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Walter Scott, by a white police officer in neighboring North Charleston that sparked major protests and highlighted racial tensions in the area.

It is senseless, it is unfathomable that somebody in today’s society would walk into a church when people are having a prayer meeting and take their lives.

Charleston Police Chief Gregory Mullen

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