Charleston Shooting Suspect Captured by Police in North Carolina [UPDATED]
UPDATE 4:00 p.m. EST: The names of the victims (and their ages) have been released by the coroner:
It reads:
- Cynthia Hurd, 54 years old
- Susie Jackson, 87
- Ethel Lance, 70
- Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49
- The Honorable Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41
- Tywanza Sanders, 26
- Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., 74
- Sharonda Singleton, 45
- Myra Thompson, 59
UPDATE 12:05 p.m. EST: Roof's arrest has now been confirmed, by the F.B.I., Charleston's mayor and by Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
Original story starts here:
Several news outlets are reporting that Dylann Roof, the suspect in the Charleston, South Carolina, church shooting, has been arrested in Shelby, North Carolina.
Roof allegedly entered Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church Wednesday night and shot six women and three men to death. Authorities have indicated that this appears to be a racially motivated action, judging from historic symbolic significance of the church as well as patches on the jacket roof is wearing in a photo released to the public.
There are also unconfirmed reports that Roof made several comments to his victims before shooting them, suggesting that he was seeking racial vengeance. His words, allegedly, were: "I have to do it. You rape our women and you're taking over our country. And you have to go."
This will be updated as further information comes in.