Police have a manhunt underway for a 21-year-old white man who allegedly entered the historic Emanuel AME Church and opened fire on parishioners. There are apparently multiple gunshot victims but no confirmed word on the number of victims or the severity of injuries. The church is an historic black church which traces its history back to 1816.
Late Update: The Post and Courier cites “unconfirmed reports” of eight people shot with “serious injuries.”
Late Update 11:59 PM: The Post and Courier is now reporting more definitively nine people shot with an unspecified number of fatalities.
Late Update 12:09 AM: Charlestown authorities have now confirmed “multiple” fatalities.
Late Update: 12:16 AM: There was apparently a bomb threat soon after tonight’s shooting, complicating the manhunt and investigation and also leading police to evacuate the area … Note: >> No connection is certain but the mastermind behind one of the most storied attempted slave revolts in Southern history, Denmark Vesey, was one of the founders of this church. And Tuesday was the anniversary of the date of the planned insurrection … Here is the history of the church from its website.
