CHARLESTON: Nine people were gunned down by an armed white man in a historic African-American church in Charlseton, South Carolina.
Officers said the murderer burst in on a Bible study group at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church at abut 9pm.
Police Chief Greg Mullen says eight people were found dead Wednesday at Emanuel AME Church and another person died later at the hospital.
Mullen says a prayer meeting was going on at the church at the time of the shooting.
The shootings took place after a bomb threat was received at the church, before an all-clear was announced.
Officers initially confirmed finding eight bodies inside the church, with two people wounded, one of whom later died at the hospital. The other is being treated for injuries.
The pastor, Rev. Clementa Pinckney is said to be among the killed, Rev. Al Sharpton has tweeted.
Chief Mullen would not say how many survivors there were, or how many people were inside the building when the assailant entered.
Police still searching for suspect in Calhoun St shooting.
— Charleston P.D. (@CharlestonPD) June 18, 2015
