This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33187779
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Charleston church shooting: Police name suspected gunman | Charleston church shooting: Police name suspected gunman |
| (2 months later) | |
| US police are hunting a 21-year-old man they suspect shot dead nine people at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina. | US police are hunting a 21-year-old man they suspect shot dead nine people at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina. |
| Charleston police named the suspect as Dylann Roof of Lexington, South Carolina. | Charleston police named the suspect as Dylann Roof of Lexington, South Carolina. |
| The gunman is believed to have sat in on a bible study meeting for up to an hour on Wednesday evening before opening fire, killing six women and three men including the church pastor. | The gunman is believed to have sat in on a bible study meeting for up to an hour on Wednesday evening before opening fire, killing six women and three men including the church pastor. |
| Officials have called it a hate crime. | Officials have called it a hate crime. |
| The US Justice Department said it would carry out a federal hate crimes investigation in "parallel to and co-operative with the state's investigation". | The US Justice Department said it would carry out a federal hate crimes investigation in "parallel to and co-operative with the state's investigation". |
| Follow the BBC's latest updates | Follow the BBC's latest updates |
| The weekly bible study meeting was under way in the church on Calhoun Street when the shooting unfolded at about 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Thursday). | The weekly bible study meeting was under way in the church on Calhoun Street when the shooting unfolded at about 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Thursday). |
| Charleston police chief Gregory Mullen said that when police arrived at the scene eight people were already dead in the church and that one other person died later in hospital. There were three survivors, he added. | Charleston police chief Gregory Mullen said that when police arrived at the scene eight people were already dead in the church and that one other person died later in hospital. There were three survivors, he added. |
| One woman survivor told her family that the gunman said he was letting her live so she could report what happened, according to the Charleston Post and Courier. | One woman survivor told her family that the gunman said he was letting her live so she could report what happened, according to the Charleston Post and Courier. |
| Police described the suspect as white, with a slender build and clean shaven. They said he was wearing a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans and Timberland boots. | Police described the suspect as white, with a slender build and clean shaven. They said he was wearing a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans and Timberland boots. |
| They released images from surveillance cameras showing him at the church, and also of a black four-door saloon car he was seen driving away in. | They released images from surveillance cameras showing him at the church, and also of a black four-door saloon car he was seen driving away in. |
| "This is a very dangerous individual who should not be approached," Mr Mullen said. | "This is a very dangerous individual who should not be approached," Mr Mullen said. |
| Within a few hours of the release of the photos, Charleston police confirmed their suspect to be Mr Roof. | Within a few hours of the release of the photos, Charleston police confirmed their suspect to be Mr Roof. |
| They said he may be driving a black Hyundai with the registration LGF330. | They said he may be driving a black Hyundai with the registration LGF330. |
| Mr Roof's uncle, Carson Cowles, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying he had recognised his nephew from the photo. | Mr Roof's uncle, Carson Cowles, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying he had recognised his nephew from the photo. |
| He described him as quiet and soft-spoken, and said he had received a .45-calibre pistol for his birthday, Reuters reports. | He described him as quiet and soft-spoken, and said he had received a .45-calibre pistol for his birthday, Reuters reports. |
| Local court records showed Mr Roof had been arrested by the police on two separate occasions earlier this year, over a drug offence and trespassing. | Local court records showed Mr Roof had been arrested by the police on two separate occasions earlier this year, over a drug offence and trespassing. |
| News of the shooting was met with shock and sadness within the community. Some residents formed prayer circles outside the church. | News of the shooting was met with shock and sadness within the community. Some residents formed prayer circles outside the church. |
| Charleston Mayor Joe Riley called it "an unfathomable and unspeakable" tragedy. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott tweeted: "My heart is breaking for Charleston and South Carolina tonight." | Charleston Mayor Joe Riley called it "an unfathomable and unspeakable" tragedy. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott tweeted: "My heart is breaking for Charleston and South Carolina tonight." |
| Bystander Shona Holmes said: "It's just hurtful to think that someone would come in and shoot people in a church. If you're not safe in church, where are you safe?" | Bystander Shona Holmes said: "It's just hurtful to think that someone would come in and shoot people in a church. If you're not safe in church, where are you safe?" |
| The Emanuel AME Church | The Emanuel AME Church |
| Charleston church's important role | Charleston church's important role |
| Profile: Pastor Clementa Pinckney | Profile: Pastor Clementa Pinckney |
| Among the dead was the high-profile 42-year-old pastor of the church Clementa Pinckney, a father of two who was also a Democratic state Senator in South Carolina. | Among the dead was the high-profile 42-year-old pastor of the church Clementa Pinckney, a father of two who was also a Democratic state Senator in South Carolina. |
| His fellow senator Kent Williams said his death was hard to believe. | His fellow senator Kent Williams said his death was hard to believe. |
| "It's devastating, devastating that someone would go into God's house and commit such a crime," he told CNN. "It's just a huge, huge loss." | "It's devastating, devastating that someone would go into God's house and commit such a crime," he told CNN. "It's just a huge, huge loss." |
| Senator Pinckney had recently sponsored a bill to make body cameras mandatory for all police officers in South Carolina. | Senator Pinckney had recently sponsored a bill to make body cameras mandatory for all police officers in South Carolina. |
| The legislation was in response to the death two months ago of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer in North Charleston. | The legislation was in response to the death two months ago of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer in North Charleston. |
| The shooting prompted angry protests and highlighted racial tension in the city. The officer has since been charged with murder. | The shooting prompted angry protests and highlighted racial tension in the city. The officer has since been charged with murder. |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. |
| If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
| Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. | Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. |
| Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 | Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 |
| Read our terms and conditions. | Read our terms and conditions. |
| Or comment below. |