A white gunman is responsible for a terror attack at a Black church in Charleston, South Carolina. According to reports by Fox 6 Now, the shooting occurred around 9 p.m. while churchgoers were having Bible study at the Emmanuel AME church.
Authorities said a clean shaven White man in his early 20s opened fire inside of the church. Witnesses say several bodies were pulled out of the church. State Senator Clementa Pinkney was assassinated during the violent attack. Reportedly, the sole survivors was a Black grandmother who shielded her grandchild during the shooting.
At press time, police have yet to capture the gunman.
There was also a bomb threat called at the scene. It’s possible the attacks were motivated by race and police are investigating the shooting as a hate crime.
The Emmanuel AME church is one of the largest and oldest Black churches in America. Police cleared the surrounding area of the church shortly after the bomb threat.