Jump to content

Charleston church shooting

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Crtrue (talk | contribs) at 06:40, 18 June 2015 (Several changes on infobox, including map.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Emanuel African Methodist Church shooting
The steeple of Emanuel African Methodist Church, Charleston
The steeple of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Charleston church shooting is located in South Carolina
Charleston church shooting
Charleston church shooting (South Carolina)
Charleston, South Carolina
LocationCharleston, South Carolina
Coordinates32°47′14.64″N 79°55′59.28″W / 32.7874000°N 79.9331333°W / 32.7874000; -79.9331333
DateJune 17, 2015 (2015-06-17)
Approx. 9:05 PM (Eastern Time Zone)
Attack type
Mass shooting
Deaths9[1]
InjuredAt least 1
VictimsClementa C. Pinckney and others
MotivePotential hate crime

On the evening of June 17, 2015, a shooting took place at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Nine people at the church were killed.[2] In the immediate aftermath, police responded and sought a white male suspect.[2] South Carolina State Senator Clementa C. Pinckney, the senior pastor of the church and one of Charleston's most prominent citizens, was among the murdered.[3][4] The incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime.[5]

Shooting

At around 9:05 p.m. on June 17, 2015, the Charleston Police Department responded to calls of a shooting at Emanuel A.M.E. church.[4] A man described as white, around 21 years old, wearing a grey sweatshirt and jeans, opened fire on the church during a Bible study attended by Senator Pinckney and then fled.[6] A man was detained matching the description outside of a nearby convenience store, but was released later that evening after police determined he was not the perpetrator.[4]

Several hours later, a bomb threat was called into the Courtyard by Marriott hotel on Calhoun Street, complicating the investigation and prompting an evacuation of the immediate area.[4]

Background

Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church in the South, founded in 1816.[2][7] It is the oldest historically black congregation south of Baltimore and was founded by Denmark Vesey.[4]

Reactions

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush postponed campaign events in Charleston scheduled for June 18. A Bush spokesperson said, "Governor Bush's thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and families affected by this tragedy".[8]

Police Investigation

Suspect is not captured, although a white suspect was racially profiled and detained, later turning out to be a photographer.

References

  1. ^ Bever, Lindsey; Costa, Robert (17 June 2015). "9 dead in shooting at historic Charleston African American church. Police chief calls it 'hate crime.'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Payne, Ed (18 June 2015). "Charleston church shooting: Multiple fatalities in South Carolina, source says". CNN. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  3. ^ Johnson, M. Alex (17 June 2015). "'This Was a Hate Crime': Nine People Killed at Historic South Carolina Church". NBC News. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Nine shot, multiple fatalities reported in downtown church shooting". www.postandcourier.com. June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  5. ^ "Police: 9 killed in downtown Charleston church shooting". Live5News. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  6. ^ Shooting erupts at church in Charleston, South Carolina, Yahoo News, June 17, 2015.
  7. ^ Civil Rights Ride 2013 – Clementa C. Pinckney, SC Senate, Pastor Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Mullikin Law Firm. 20 Feb 2015.
  8. ^ O'Keefe, Ed (18 June 2015). "Jeb Bush cancels events in Charleston due to church shooting". Washington Post. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charleston_church_shooting&oldid=667453377"