9 dead in Charleston church shooting, gunman still on the loose

Charleston police say 9 people were killed in shooting at local church — (Image credit: NBC News/Screengrab)

Police in Charleston, South Carolina, said early Thursday that nine people were killed in a shooting at the historic Emanuel AME Church on Wednesday night, eight of them found dead at the scene and one who died in the hospital. An unspecified number of people survived the attack, and the wounded are at a local hospital. Local, state, and federal law enforcement are searching for the shooter, believed to be a 21-year-old white male with sandy hair. "He is, obviously, extremely dangerous," said Police Chief Greg Mullen, adding that he believes it was a hate crime. Mullen said he is unable to identify any of the victims at this time.

UPDATE: Early Thursday, South Carolina House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford confirmed speculation that the church's pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney (D), was among those murdered in the attack.

You can watch Mullen's comments below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.