CHARLESTON, S.C. – A librarian and recent college graduate are among the nine people killed by a white gunman in a black church in downtown Charleston.
State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, 41, the pastor of Emanuel African Methodist Church, had already been identified as one of those killed.
Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten said Thursday the others have been identified as Cynthia Hurd, 54; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Sharonda Singleton, 45; Myra Thompson, 59; Ethel Lance, 70; Susie Jackson, 87; the Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., 74; and DePayne Doctor, 49.
Rev Clementa Pinckney: Age 41 and a father of two, Pinckney was beloved in his community as a brilliant pastor and motivational African American figure in the community. In 2000, he was elected to the state Senate.
Rev Sharonda Singleton: Singleton was one of many ministerial staff at Emanuel AME Church and a respected mother.
Tywanza Sanders: A 2014 Allen University graduate in Business Administration, and he was attending the Bible Study session.
Myra Thompson: There is not much information on this woman currently, but her daughter confirmed her death in the shooting.
Ethel Lee Lance: A sexton at Emanual AME Church who had worked there for over 30 years and was a beloved grandmother.
Cythnia Hurd: Hurd was an employee of the Charleston County Public Library for 31 years. The Charleston County Public Library’s 16 locations are all closed today in remembrance of Hurd and the other victims.
Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., 74.
DePayne Doctor, 49: An enrollment counselor at Southern Wesleyan University’s Charleston Campus, according to a friend.
Susie Jackson, 87.
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has stated that flags will remain at half staff for nine days – a day for each victim.
The Mother Emanuel Hope Fund has been set up to help the victims of the families effected by the tragedy. The fund will be accepting checks made out to “Mother Emanuel Hope Fund” at the following address:
Mother Emanuel Hope Fund
C/O City of Charleston
P.O Box 304
Charleston, SC 29402
A website is expected to be setup and running by noon on Friday for online donations at motheremanuelhopefund.com.
Dylann Roof was arrested in Shelby, North Carolina today, accused of the shootings at a Charleston church, after local police received a call about a suspicious vehicle.
