A decade has passed since a mass shooting at a historically Black church in downtown Charleston claimed the lives of nine individuals, leaving the nation in shock and mourning.
The tragic event occurred on June 17, 2015, at Mother Emanuel AME Church located on Calhoun Street. This church, established in 1818 by a free Black shoemaker, has served as a symbol of faith and community for Black individuals.
On that Wednesday evening, the church was conducting its regular Bible study in the lower level of the building. The lesson focused on the fourth chapter of the Book of Mark, which concludes with Jesus Christ and his disciples on a boat as a storm approaches.
Nine members of Mother Emanuel AME Church lost their lives in a mass shooting that took place at the end of a Wednesday night Bible study on June 17, 2015.
The victims included Susie Jackson, 87, the oldest; the Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74; Ethel Lance, 70; Myra Thompson, 59; Cynthia Graham Hurd, 54; the Rev. Sharonda Singleton, 45; and Tywanza Sanders, 26, the youngest victim, all of whom succumbed to their injuries that night.
Five individuals who were present in the church survived the attack. Felicia Sanders, the mother of Tywanza Sanders, was among the survivors. She shielded her granddaughter by pushing her to the floor and lying on top of her, instructing her to pretend to be dead.
Dylann Roof, a 21-year-old white supremacist, had participated in the Bible study before he opened fire. He specifically targeted the church members due to its historical significance and prominence. In December 2016, Roof was found guilty of 33 federal hate crime and murder charges. On January 10, 2017, he received a death sentence for these offenses. Additionally, Roof faced nine counts of murder in South Carolina state courts. In April 2017, he pleaded guilty to all nine state charges to avoid a second death sentence, resulting in a life imprisonment sentence without the possibility of parole. Although he will automatically appeal his death sentence, he may ultimately face execution through the federal justice system.
Reference: en.wikipedia.org
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