Dylann Roof, the alleged gunman authorities say is responsible for killing nine people in a Charleston, South Carolina, church Wednesday night, has been apprehended, authorities said.
Police said Roof, 21, was arrested Thursday during a traffic stop in Shelby, North Carolina, about 250 miles north of Charleston. He was charged with murder and extradited back to Charleston Thursday evening.
UPDATE at 8:45 THURSDAY:
Charleston announces plan for prayer vigil to be held Friday.
Charleston shooting suspect Dylann Roof will make his first appearance Thursday afternoon at the Cleveland County courthouse. He was escorted from the Shelby Police Department.
RAW VIDEO: Channel 9 cameras were rolling when the #CharlestonShooting suspect #DylannRoof was just escorted from the...
Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford and FBI Special Agent John Strong read statements at the Shelby Police Department Thursday afternoon.
Ledford said Shelby police observed the vehicle Roof was driving at 10:43 a.m. The suspect was pulled over at 10:44 a.m. Roof was taken into custody at 10:49 a.m.
The FBI has initiated an investigation and will work with federal and local law enforcement to determine if a hate crime was committed, Strong said.
UPDATE at 3:23 P.M. THURSDAY:
The coroner gave the names and ages of the nine people shot and killed at a church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Former North Carolina Sen. Malcolm Graham released the following statement on his sister, who was killed at the shooting in Charleston:
"My sister, Ms. Cynthia Marie Graham-Hurd, was a victim of the senseless hate crime at Emanuel AME Church. It is unimaginable that she would walk into church and not return. But that's who she was - a woman of faith. This is a very difficult time for our family, and Cynthia will be sorely missed. Our family is close-knit, and our faith will see us through. I also extend condolences to the other families of Emanuel AME Church and the city of Charleston who have been affected by this inconceivable tragedy.
"My family and I appreciate the thoughts and prayers from people across North Carolina and South Carolina."
UPDATE at 1:13 P.M. THURSDAY:
Allen University released a statement on two alumni killed in the Charleston church shooting: Tywanza Sanders and Sen. Clementa Pinckney.
Sanders was a 2014 graduate. Allen University described him as a quiet, well-known student who was committed to his education.
Sanders was participating in the Bible Study session at Mother Emanuel church at the time of the shooting.
The death of Pinckney is a significant loss for the State of South Carolina and the African Methodist Episcopal church, the university said in a statement. He has impacted the lives of those in his congregation as well as members of the South Carolina Legislature and beyond.
"Our hearts and prayers are with the families of these two victims of this senseless act of violence." – Dr. Lady June Cole, Interim President of Allen University
UPDATE at 12:35 P.M. THURSDAY:
Reporter Dave Faherty confirmed with Salisbury Police Department that Roof is still at the jail. Police said they are not going to do anything until Charleston police and the FBI arrive.
UPDATE at 12:22 P.M. THURSDAY:
President Barack Obama spoke about the shootings at a Charleston church.
“There is something heartbreaking that it happened in a place in which we seek solace, peace,” Obama said.
"We don’t have all the facts but we do know once again innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun," he said.
UPDATE at 11:45 A.M. THURSDAY:
Dylann Roof used an ATM in Charlotte around 5:45 a.m. Thursday at corner of Providence Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division officers said.
Charleston detectives and the FBI are headed to Shelby after Roof was arrested during a traffic stop.
WATCH video from the scene of the traffic stop in Shelby:
The mayor of Charleston said he received a call from President Barack Obama, conveying his sympathy and offering any resources the city needs.
Mayor: The arrest of that awful man is important for all of us to begin the process of healing together. #CharlestonShooting
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was emotional during the news conference.
"We woke up today and the heart and south of South Carolina was broken," Gov. Nikki Haley said.
UPDATE 11:20 A.M. THURSDAY:
A source told Channel 9 the Dylann Roof was in custody in Shelby, North Carolina. Channel 9 has a crew headed to the scene.
President Barack Obama is expected to address the nation about the shooting at 11:45 a.m. Channel 9 will live stream the president's remarks.
UPDATE 10:50 A.M. THURSDAY:
In Charlotte, a vigil is planned tonight for the victims of the church shooting. The Little Rock AME Zion Church on North McDowell Street in uptown will hold a prayer service.
It starts at 6 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.
UPDATE 10:10 A.M. THURSDAY:
Authorities are searching for Dylann Roof, the man alleged to be involved in a shooting that left nine people dead at a historic black church Wednesday.
The FBI confirmed Thursday that Roof, 21, of Lexington County, is the suspect authorities say shot six women and three men during a service at Emanuel AME Church.
Watch video from the scene below:
“He obviously is extremely dangerous,” Police Chief Gregory Mullen said.
Roof’s motive is unknown and police don’t know if anyone else is targeted.
Police are asking anyone with information about Roof to call 843-743-7200 or 1-800-225-5324.
The vehicle he may be driving is a black Hyundai with vehicle tag LGF330.
South Carolina Senator Vincent Sheheen tweeted that a black cloth had been placed over Sen. Pinckney's seat in the South Carolina Senate. Sheheen called Pinckney a "truly gentle, kind and giving man."
Pinckney won election to the South Carolina senate in 2000 at the age of 27, becoming the youngest African American to do so. He had previously been elected to the state's House of Representatives at 23.
Reports said he met Hillary Clinton earlier on Wednesday at a fundraising event in Charleston.
UPDATE 8:54 A.M. THURSDAY:
A Justice Department spokesman says federal officials are opening a hate crime investigation into the fatal shooting at Emanuel AME Church.
The spokesman said that the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina are opening the investigation into the Wednesday night shooting.
The city of Charleston has opened an assistance center for families of the victims of Wednesday night's fatal shooting at Emanuel AME Church.
City spokeswoman Barbara Vaughn says the center will be based at The Embassy Suites downtown and will be staffed by local, state and federal victim services personnel, as well as a group of Charleston-area chaplains.
Charleston County School District's summer schools and camps are on precautionary lockdown.
Charleston Co., SC, School District's summer schools and camps on precautionary lockdown due to ongoing manhunt for church gunman.
— ABC News (@ABC)
UPDATE 7:37 A.M. THURSDAY:
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CHURCH FACTS: Emanuel AME Church is an historic African-American church that traces its roots to 1816 and has been called "Mother Church," according to its web site.
Located on Calhoun Street in the heart of downtown Charleston, the church claims one of the largest black congregations south of Baltimore.
It is believed to be the oldest AME church in the South. Atlanta's Big Bethel AME Church, located on Auburn Avenue, was founded in 1847, according to its website.
UPDATE 7:25 A.M. THURSDAY:
Chief Mullen told reporters the shooting call was received from the church at 9:05 p.m. A total of nine victims were shot and killed -- three men and six women. Mullen did not give other details about the victim and said the names will not be released until families are notified.
The chief said it was critical for anyone in the community who recognizes the suspect or the vehicle to call the police. A family assistance center in downtown Charleston has been set up for families of the victims.
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley called the Wednesday night shooting "an unspeakable and heartbreaking tragedy."
"This is an unfathomable and unspeakable act by somebody filled with hate and a deranged mind," said Riley. "This is a community that honors our religious institutions...we are going to put our arms around that church and the church family. We are committed to finding this horrible scoundrel."
Mullen said the gunman was attending the church prayer meeting for roughly an hour before opening fire. He said there were three survivors from inside the church.
“Because of the pain and because of the hurt this individual has caused this community, this entire community, the law enforcement agencies that are working on this are committed. We will catch this individual,” Mullen said.
"We don't have any information about any specific information on where the suspect is right now," said Mullen. "We don't know if anyone was targeted other than the church itself."
Sen. Tim Scott released the following statement:
"My heart is breaking for Charleston and South Carolina tonight. This senseless tragedy at a place of worship where we come together to laugh, love and rejoice in God's name -- is absolutely despicable and can never be understood."
UPDATE 6:50 A.M. THURSDAY:
Former North Carolina Sen. Malcolm Graham told Channel 9 that Emanuel AME Church is his home church and he believes his sister was inside the church at the time of the shootings. He is headed to Charleston.
Just in: @SenatorMGraham tells me his sister was in Charleston church last night. Manhunt now for gunman who killed 9 #CharlestonShooting
— Allison Latos (@AllisonWSOC9)
UPDATE 6:05 A.M. THURSDAY:
Police released a surveillance photo of the man they said killed nine people inside the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston Wednesday night. He is described as a white male between the age of 21-25.
He is considered armed and dangerous and anyone with information can call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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UPDATE 4:35 A.M. THURSDAY:
Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen says the FBI will be involved in the investigation of a shooting at a historic black church that killed nine and is being called a hate crime.
Mullen said the FBI would aid the investigation while speaking at a news conference that was also attended by FBI Special Agent in Charge David A. Thomas.
House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford says that among those killed at Emanuel AME Church was the church's pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney.
Authorities are still searching for the shooter, who's described as a white male in his early 20s.
UPDATE 3 A.M. THURSDAY:
A South Carolina legislative leader says the church's pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, is among those killed in a shooting at a historic black church in downtown Charleston that authorities are calling a hate crime.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has responded to the shooting in downtown Charleston.
"While we do not yet know all of the details, we do know that we'll never understand what motivates anyone to enter one of our places of worship and take the life of another," she said in a statement early Thursday morning.
Police were still searching for a white male suspect.
UPDATE 11:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY: Multiple people shot inside Charleston church, sources say
Charleston police were on scene of a shooting Wednesday night that happened inside a church on Calhoun Street.
Officials said several people were wounded at Emanuel A.M.E. church.
The pastor of the church is State Sen. Clementa Pinckney who police said was shot, along with his sister.
Their conditions have not been released, police told our affiliate. Police have not said if there are any casualties.
However, sources told our affiliate there were multiple deaths from the shooting.
The shooting happened at about 9 p.m. and shortly after there was a bomb threat made in the vicinity.
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