• Nine people are dead in a shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina
• The Charleston police chief, Gregory Mullen, stated in a press conference that he believes the act was a hate crime. 
• A Charleston police have said the suspect is a white male who is believed to be 21 years old with sandy brown hair. He reportedly remains at large.
• The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest AME church in the south and has a rich history in the civil rights movement. 
• Pastor and Democratic state senator Clementa C. Pinckney is among the reported casualties. 

You can watch the early morning press conference from the Charleston police chief and mayor here: 

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For more on the tragedy in Charleston, click here.