Suspect in Charleston massacre surrenders in Shelby. Charlotteans react on social media
On Wednesday night a white man opened fire in a historic black church in Charleston, S.C. Some are calling it terrorism. It’s being investigated as a hate crime.
A manhunt for the suspected shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Storm Roof, ended Thursday morning when he was taken into custody in Shelby, which is located a little less than 50 miles west of Charlotte.
Timeline of Events
(1) Witnesses say a white man entered a prayer meeting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston Wednesday night. He asked for the pastor, then sat next to Pastor Clementa Pinckney during Bible study before opening fire.
Three people survived the attack. The suspect immediately fled the scene.
6 women, 3 men killed in shooting at Emanuel AME; suspect at large #CharlestonShooting http://t.co/kBxXeMfswL pic.twitter.com/npwHYvOSV5
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 18, 2015
(2) He made at least one stop in Charlotte during that time, as authorities have confirmed a card belonging to Roof was used at a Charlotte ATM.
(3) Police took Roof into custody “without incident,” according to CNN, at 11:15 a.m. Thursday.
#DylannRoof looks around at our cameras while being escorted to patrol car. #CharlestonShooting pic.twitter.com/3QXUEY94ch
— Audrina Bigos (@AudrinaBigos) June 18, 2015
Remembering the Victims
The Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten has identified the nine people killed in the attack.
(1) Cynthia Hurd, 54, the sister of Malcolm Graham, a former N.C. senator from Charlotte.
Cynthia Hurd worked for Charleston libraries for 30 years. She was killed in the #CharlestonMassacre. #SayTheirNames pic.twitter.com/OKtW3oSRck — Colorlines.com (@Colorlines) June 18, 2015
(2) Susie Jackson, 87.
SHE HAS A NAME: Susie Jackson, a longtime church member was killed at AME Church last night. pic.twitter.com/oUL7n1DGBw — Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015
(3) Ethel Lance, 70.
Ethel Lee Lance worked at Mother Emanuel for 30 years. #RIP (Pic via @MichaelSkolnik) http://t.co/IBJVsioimL pic.twitter.com/adtOh7mgIK
— Katie Zavadski (@katiezavadski) June 18, 2015
(4) Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49.
Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, mother of 4 daughters, singer in church choir was killed at AME. #CharlestonShooting pic.twitter.com/E9ZfXZATq4
— ღ Tia Pugh ღ (@HolyGirlSwag21) June 18, 2015
(5) Hon. Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41.
Remembering Democratic Senator Clementa C. Pinckney (1973-2015). Gone but never forgotten. #sctweets pic.twitter.com/R5C0kua3ug — SCDP (@scdp) June 18, 2015
(6) Tywanza Sanders, 26.
This is TyWanza Sanders. Killed in the #CharlestonShooting. A great young brother. Recent Allen University grad. pic.twitter.com/VO8RXZg6JH
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 18, 2015
(7) Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., 74.
Rest easy in #Omega brother Rev. Daniel Lee Simmons Sr of #phibetasigma #PrayersForCharleston pic.twitter.com/TXEMFoE3DG
— Fredrick D. Williams (@fab5freddiePR) June 18, 2015
(8) Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45.
Know the name of Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton. A beloved mother, elder & staff member of Emmanuel AME Church. pic.twitter.com/Tgb1msEoKl
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 18, 2015
(9) Myra Thompson, 59.
Myra Thompson, 59-years-old
— Holy City Sinner (@HolyCitySinner) June 18, 2015
Charlotte Twitter reactions
Overall, it seems as if Charlotteans came together to mourn the tragedy. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, there was not a single negative tweet connected to the hashtag #CharlestonShooting from the Charlotte area.
A sampling:
We are not born with hate in our hearts or minds. It’s learned, and that’s something that’s truly sad. #CharlestonShooting — Stevie Billman (@shortstevie) June 18, 2015
There has to be SOME kind of legislation change. I don’t know the answer, but NOTHING isn’t it. #CharlestonShooting https://t.co/vULkQ9EtQ9 — William Wilson (@TheClothier) June 18, 2015
Racism is not a mental illness. #CharlestonShooting — Lulu (@woeislulu) June 18, 2015
Finding it hard to concentrate #CharlestonShooting #feelingthepsychicwound — Alicia Benjamin (@ramalicia) June 18, 2015
Raised in the South, black churches were always warm and lively. I hope this fire still burns beyond this tragedy. #CharlestonShooting — allyl isothiocyanate (@aron_tran) June 18, 2015
.@AlvedaCKing “Hate does not have a color.” on @foxandfriends right now with comments on #CharlestonShooting — Heather Childers (@HeatherChilders) June 18, 2015
The shooter is a DOMESTIC TERRORIST. And this was a premeditated hate crime. He was intentional in his murder. #CharlestonShooting — CAT (@OneCopaceticCAT) June 18, 2015
To the people saying “gun control”, there’s already a war on drugs but your kids still get their hands on those. So… #CharlestonShooting — jß (@jjanelleb) June 18, 2015
Brethren, pray for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:25 #CharlestonShooting — Billy Mauldin (@mauldin_billy) June 18, 2015
It just makes me so sad to know that people can so willingly treat others so poorly the way that they do. #CharlestonShooting — Jake Chisum (@DamnItJake) June 18, 2015
Especially unsettling when acts of terror happen in places that are supposed to be havens like churches and schools. #CharlestonShooting — Sarah Kerman (@smkscribe) June 18, 2015
Anyone who walks in a church and kills anyone is pure evil. My heart aches for those in Charleston. #CharlestonShooting — Brian Patrick Walsh (@SgtWalshB) June 18, 2015
We stand by you, Charleston. We will not allow hate to win.
Photo by David Goldman, AP
This story was originally published June 19, 2015 at 1:21 AM.