On Wednesday night, a demonic act has slain nine people inside a church in Charleston, South Carolina.
The suspect, 21-year-old Dylann Storm Roof fired gun shots that killed six women and three men inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, during their weekly bible study.
Among the dead victims of the reported brutal firing were church pastor and South Carolina state Senator, Clementa Pickney, Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Rev. Daniel Simmons, Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lance, Tywanza Sanders, Cynthia Hurd, and Susie Jackson.
Huffington Post reported that according to Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen, Roof was sitting with the bible study attendees inside the church, about an hour before he started firing. One of the survivors, who told the senator's cousin about the devastating incident, said his son tried talking Roof out of further killings.
The shooter then answered, "'I have to do it. You rape our women and you're taking over our country. And you have to go." Pickney's cousin, Sylvia Johnson also told NBC that Roof reloaded his gun five times.
Dramatic pic by @MatthewFortner of search for gunman in downtown Charleston. #chsnews pic.twitter.com/h7vFO5sVK3
— Andrew Knapp (@offlede) June 18, 2015
"The only reason someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of hate. It is the most dastardly act that one could possibly imagine," Charleston Mayor Joe Riley told reporters at a news conference.
Dr. ML King, Jr. visited Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 1962 (Img via @TheKingCenter) pic.twitter.com/3XG4vUSnwo #CharlestionShooting — Shawn Cabbagestalk (@CabbageTV) June 18, 2015
The suspect was arrested Thursday morning, during a traffic stop at the Charleston County Sherrif's Office after waiving extradition in the northern state.
"Once again, innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun," said U.S. President Barack Obama in his statement released by the White House. "At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence doesn't happen in other countries."
Reuters reported that according to the suspect's uncle, Carson Cowles, Roof received the gun he used in the church massacre from his father, during his birthday in April.
