MASS Shooting at Black Church in Charleston; As Many as EIGHT DEAD, White Male Shooter at Large
Social media reports are indicating that a man entered a black church in South Carolina and shot and killed as many as eight people. UPDATE: There has been a bomb threat called in near the church as police look for a white male suspect. Police are evacuating people out.
In #Charleston, local TV is reporting State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, reverend at the Emanuel AME Church, and his sister, have both been shot.
— Samuel Oakford (@samueloakford) June 18, 2015
Horrifying:
A woman told me a 5-year-old girl was in the church and hid from the shooter. Not confirmed by police. Woman said she was covered in blood.
— Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) June 18, 2015
Multiple casualties in downtown Charleston, S.C. Hearing several possible fatalities due to a shooting near Emmanuel AME Church. #chsnews
— The Media Man (@CharlestonBrian) June 18, 2015
Scene in downtown Charleston in front of Emmanuel AME Church. #chsnews #CHSShooting https://t.co/MilSdom7HK
— Dave Williams (@LCWxDave) June 18, 2015
Big scene for reported shooting at Emmanuel AME Church on Calhoun St. EMS, CPD and Chas Co Sheriff's office #chsnews pic.twitter.com/qFau4qlTeH
— William Joy (@WilliamLive5) June 18, 2015
It looks like family and friends of victims are gathering at the Courtyard hotel near Emmanuel AME Church. #chsnews #CHSShooting
— Dave Williams (@LCWxDave) June 18, 2015
Emmanuel Church is the oldest AME church in the south. #chsnews #CHSShooting
— Dave Williams (@LCWxDave) June 18, 2015
Tonight's shooting apparently took place at Emmanuel AME church. The pastor is State Senator Clementa Pinckney. Praying for those involved.
— Tyler Jones (@TylerMJones) June 18, 2015
This man was apprehended early on, but it appears he wasn’t involved:
Charleston police just appended this man after gun shots traded. Near AME church where reported shooting occurred. pic.twitter.com/lSgcujeVZg
— Michael C. Bender (@MichaelCBender) June 18, 2015
Police responding to reported shooting near Emmanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston. Photo: WCSC pic.twitter.com/O1Me5GFSeO
— WFMY News 2 (@WFMY) June 18, 2015
BREAKING: CPD confirms shooting at Emmanuel AME church. Looking for suspect. No description yet. Briefing soon. #chsnews
— William Joy (@WilliamLive5) June 18, 2015
Pray for those at Emmanuel AME here in Charleston as a man went into the church and shot at least 8 individuals.
— JBoyd II (@j_boyd_ii) June 18, 2015
BREAKING FOX24 #Charleston: eight people are assumed dead. Suspect entered the Emmanuel AME Church and began to shoot.
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoFOX46) June 18, 2015
Suspect is a white male maybe 21 years of age. pic.twitter.com/th9ZgMSHcB
— Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) June 18, 2015
I'm in downtown #Charleston. There's a helicopter circling overhead, searching the area with a spotlight. @WFMY pic.twitter.com/3Myw7zKgma
— Patrick Wright (@ptwright) June 18, 2015
Breaking: Suspect IS still at large. Police looking for him now with help of helicopter. Shooting at Emmanuel AME Church on Calhoun St.#WLTX
— Andrea Mock WLTX (@AndreaMockWLTX) June 18, 2015
https://twitter.com/postandcourier/status/611361930457018368
Former pastor of Emmanuel AME church speaking live on the phone now @Live5News. Says he's shocked something like this happened. #chsnews
— Karina Bolster (@KRBolster) June 18, 2015
RT@ptwright We've been told not to leave our restaurant here in #Charleston for the time being. Helicopter still circling above.
— WFMY News 2 (@WFMY) June 18, 2015
Prayer circle in downtown Charleston. Credit: @WilliamLive5 http://t.co/Vq9x6jlmAf pic.twitter.com/aJTWKFmYkF
— WFMY News 2 (@WFMY) June 18, 2015
Bomb threat called in. Charleston Police. pushing us back across Meeting Street on Calhoun. @WCBD #chsnews pic.twitter.com/emnPIUs5lT
— Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) June 18, 2015
Bomb squad responding to scene near church shooting in Charleston, unclear why.
— Coral News (@CoralNews) June 18, 2015
We're hearing 9 are dead. @WCBD #prayforcharleston
— Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) June 18, 2015
More info as it comes available.
This is terrifying:
My dad, Rev W A Sinkfield, just spoke with his pastor friend in Charleston who reported an update from a surviving victim. Use w/caution (1)
— Joshua DuBois (@joshuadubois) June 18, 2015
Apparently tonight was quarterly conference at Emanuel. Presiding elder had just left and pastor then started bible study (2)
— Joshua DuBois (@joshuadubois) June 18, 2015
Shooter entered and said he was going to kill everyone but 1 person. A grandmother covered her grandchild and played dead (3)
— Joshua DuBois (@joshuadubois) June 18, 2015
Shooter then attacked all congregants. Grandmother and child only ones who got away. She called my dad's friend, who called him. (4)
— Joshua DuBois (@joshuadubois) June 18, 2015
Take with appropriate grain of salt as all parties traumatized and insane situation still developing. (5)
— Joshua DuBois (@joshuadubois) June 18, 2015
Police chief says there are some who survived the shooting but would not say how many. #Charleston
— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) June 18, 2015
UPDATE
Officials say multiple people are wounded after a shooting inside a Calhoun Street church.
The shooting happened about 9 p.m. at 110 Calhoun Street, according to Charleston police.
The suspect is described as a clean-shaven white male, about 21 years old. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt or hoodie, blue jeans and Timberland boots, Charleston police spokesman Charles Francis said.
Heavily-armed police have surrounded the area around as they search for the suspect.
The FBI, State Law Enforcement Division, the coroner’s office and multiple police agencies are on the scene.
Police took a local photographer wearing a backpack into custody but said they were still searching for a suspect.
Watch our report live here.
