87yearold woman. Police say they and others were murdered because of their race. Were looking at their lives and their legacies. Im wolf blitzer. Youre in the situation room. Breaking news as yet another American Community grieves tonight and the entire country recoils in shock and horror, the youngman who police say gunned down nine worshippers at a Historic Church is now in custody. 21yearold dylann roof was arrested. According to police the suspect sat in a prayer meeting before standing up and saying he was there to shoot black people. All of the victims, including the churchs pastor were black. The alleged gunman is white. Federal authorities are now investigating this as a hate crime. We have complete coverage tonight. Ill speak with South Carolina congressman, the former governor mark sanford, and our correspondents analysts and guests. Theyre standing by with the latest de tails. Lets begin with john berman hes he site of the church. John, tell us what happened. Reporter wolf w
Carolina needs to come together an be strong for what has happened. Police believe he acted alone alone. Witnesses report he asked for the pastor of the church. A relative of the pastor gave a chilling account of the shooting. I spoke with the one of the survivors, and she said that he had loaded reloaded five different times. And her son was trying to talk him out of doing that act of killing people. And he just said i have to do it. He said you rape our women and youre taking over our country. And you have to go. Members of the community gathered today for a prayer vigil honoring the victims, speaking today at the white house, president obama said he knew several members of the church personally, including the pastor. To say our thoughts and prayers are with them doesnt do enough to convey the heartache and sadness and the anger that we feel. Theres something particularly heartbreaking when this happens in a place of peace. Craig, let me start with you, what else can you tell us abou
Good evening. Im erin burnett. Breaking news in the Charleston Church massacre. The gunman in the mass shooting of nine gunmen attending bible study is in the air flying to South Carolina to face charges. Going to be land in the next five six minutes. We will show that to you. Captured on the run in North Carolina 21yearold dylann roof will be on the ground shortly to be charged. This video, which is just in shows roof in prison stripes, shackled boarding a small plane for the flight back to charleston. Also just in to cnn at this moment chilling images of the suspect sitting with Church Members during their bible study class. Moments before he allegedly stood up shooting and killing nine of the 12 people in the room. Eight people died on the scene. The ninth, a short time later at the hospital. Witnesses telling police that roof said he was in the church to shoot black people and that he told one of the two adult survivors he was spapring her life so she could tell what happened. Afte
This is a situation that is unacceptable in any society and especially in our society, in our city. Its critical that the members of the community who have seen the picture of the vehicle as well as the suspect, to call Law Enforcement. This is a very dangerous individual. He should not be approached by anyone. We are not leaving any stone unturned. This tragedy that were addressing right now is undescribable. No one in this community will ever forget this night. A reward is being offered for his capture. Police have not released the names of all of the victims but we do know they include three men and six women. Also among the victims was the churchs pastor reverend Clementa Pinckney. This morning, a black cloth drapes his seat in the senate chamber, a relative of the pastor gave this chilling account of what happened inside the church. The suspect came to the church and he asked for the pastor, where is the pastor . They showed him where the pastor was. He sat next to my cousin rever
Slaughter in charleston and gun violence in america. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. Im wolf blitzer. Youre in the situation room. This is cnn breaking news. The breaking news, were standing by for the alleged gunman in the Charleston Church massacre to be flown to South Carolina. Hes being sent back to face charges in the shooting deaths of nine members of an historic africanamerican congregation. This is the first video of 21yearold darren roof in custody shortly after his capture in North Carolina. Tonight a cnn exclusive. Images of roof sitting inside a bible study class before he allegedly opened fire. Police said he spent about an hour in the room then revealed to his victims he was there to shoot black people. Congressman james scli burnclyburn is standing by as we cover this breaking story. Cnns brian todd on the scene in lexington lexington, South Carolina, the suspects hometown. Whats the latest youre picking up there . Reporter wolf