State Rep. Wendell G. Gilliard said the Charleston, South Carolina shooting occurred Wednesday at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The suspect, described as an approximately 21-year-old, white male in a grey sweatshirt or hoodie, jeans and Timberland boots is still at large, police said.
Police said the shooting happened around 9 PM local time.
Unconfirmed media reports said that at least 8 people have been shot.
The Emanuel AME church is a historic African-American church that traces its roots back to the early 1800s. Every Wednesday evening, the church holds a Bible study in its basement, according to Fox8.
DEVELOPING: Manhunt ongoing for gunman after shooting at church in Charleston, South Carolina: http://t.co/aSGcWCadEj – @ABCNews4
— ABC News (@ABC) June 18, 2015
DEVELOPING: Shooting reported at church in Charleston, South Carolina; gunman still on loose http://t.co/ssGkxCWGp7 pic.twitter.com/9JVCQI33FK
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 18, 2015
WCSC-TV image of a man being taken into custody near church shooting in Charleston pic.twitter.com/1BI871IMfi
— Coral News (@CoralNews) June 18, 2015
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
Full statement from Gov. Nikki Haley in response to tonight’s shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston:
Full statement from Gov. Nikki Haley in response to tonight's shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. pic.twitter.com/aatRkQumKy
— The Rogue Report (@thejournalist44) June 18, 2015
ABC just reported that the Reverend Pinckney & his sister were two of the victims of the #CharlestonShooting pic.twitter.com/TybmD31wUj
— Keegan Stephan (@KeeganNYC) June 18, 2015