Police have released CCTV images of a white gunman who killed nine people in a race-hate crime at an African American church in South Carolina and warned he is extremely dangerous.
The suspect opened fire at a weekly bible study group at the 150-year-old Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston but spared one women so she could tell the world what happened, according to eye witnesses.
A five-year-old girl also survived the attack after her grandmother told her to play dead when the shooter suddenly started firing after entering the church and sitting quietly in the study meeting.
Police have released a CCTV image of the suspect they believe opened fire in a black church in South Carolina killing nine people in a race hate crime
The suspect was pictured leaving the church in a black four door sedan which has a distinctive license plate, and police and believe he is still in the Charleston area
The city has now been placed on lockdown as police and the FBI try to track down the man, who they described as a young white male, aged between 21 and 25 and five foot nine in height.
They also revealed how the suspect fled the scene in a 'distinctive' getaway car, which they believe is still in the Charleston area.
Police Chief Greg Mullen said: 'We just wanted to get this out as quickly as we could.
'He is dangerous and should not be approached and anybody who sees him should call 911.
It has been suggested that the shooting was timed to coincide with two large political rallies in the city, as just hours before Rev Pinckney met with Hillary Clinton as part of her presidential campaign and Jeb Bush was also due to visit Charleston today but his appearance has now been canceled.
Meanwhile Hillary Clinton tweeted: 'Heartbreaking news from Charleston - my thoughts and prayers are with you all.'In a statement, the Bush campaign said: 'Governor Bush's thoughts and prayers are with individuals and families affected by this tragedy.'
Charleston police chief Gregory Mullen said in a news conference shortly after the incident: 'This is a tragedy that no community should have to experience… It is senseless, unfathomable…we are going to do everything in our power to find this individual, to lock him up, to make sure he does not hurt anyone else…'
He said he believes the shooting was a hate crime.
Officers also investigated a possible bomb threat after the shooting, but several hours later gave the all-clear.
The suspect is described as a clean-shaven, 21-year-old white male and is believed to be wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and Timberland boots.
Police were seen soon after taking a man matching the description into custody.
However, the man was released and the Charleston Police Department tweeted that the gunman was still at large.
Charleston mayor Joe Riley, told reporters: 'To have an awful person come in and shoot them is inexplicable, obviously the most intolerable and unbelievable act possible.
'The only reason someone could walk into a church to shoot people praying is out of hate.'
Shona Holmes, a bystander in the aftermath of the shooting, added: 'It's just hurtful to think that someone would come in and shoot people in a church.
'If you're not safe in church, where are you safe?'
Local pastor Thomas Dixon told CNN around 11.30pm that the scene was 'very bad.'
'Apparently the person just entered the church and opened fire.
'That part has not been fully articulated on what happened yet ... they are still looking for the suspect,' he said.
Dixon also told NBC News that a bible study session is likely to have been going on at the time of the shooting.
He said the church holds the sessions every Wednesday.
A heavy police presence remained outside the church and a helicopter was seen assisting law enforcement on the scene in the hours following the shooting, FOX reports.
At least six ambulances were seen in the area of the shooting.
'The only reason that someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of hate,' said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley.
'It is the most dastardly act that one could possibly imagine, and we will bring that person to justice. ... This is one hateful person.'
The attack came two months after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Walter Scott, by a white police officer in neighboring North Charleston that sparked major protests and highlighted racial tensions in the area.
Killed: A gunman opened fire at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, South Carolina Wednesday night, killing nine people, and reports say a bomb threat was called in just hours later
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL
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