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1st LD Writethru: 9 dead in shooting at black church in South Carolina: police

Xinhua, June 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nine people were killed Wednesday night at an African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina in what the authorities described as "a hate crime" by a white gunman.

"I do believe this was a hate crime," Police Chief Gregory Mullen said at a press conference, adding that eight people died on the scene at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and one person was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The suspect, described by the police as a 21-year-old slender and clean-shaven white man, was still at large, said Mullen.

According to Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, the shooting happened when people were taking part in a prayer meeting.

"The only reason someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of hate," Riley said during a press conference.

Built in 1891, the church has one of the largest black congregations in the region, its website said. Endit