Hundreds Pack into Charleston Church Sunday after Shooting

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Jun 22, 2015

Hundreds Pack into Charleston Church Sunday after Shooting

About 400 people packed inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday for a memorial service honoring the nine men and women who were killed in a shooting at the church last week. Reverend Norvel Goff spoke at the service, as the church’s senior pastor Clementa Pinckney was one of the victims killed in the shooting. 

Goff said, "When evil is in the world, you and I may not be able to control evil-doers. Some of us are still trying to seek answers to what happened last week, Wednesday. I've decided to turn it to over to Jesus."

The message brought tears and laughter to the crowd as those in attendance sought healing after the devastating incident. 

Christian Today reports the service drew South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, US Senator Tim Scott, Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley and Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. 

Also on Sunday, approximately 20,000 people joined together to walk across the 2.5-mile Ravenel Bridge in solidarity for the victims and community. 

Dylann Roof, 21, is charged with nine counts of murder after opening fire in the church during Bible study. The gunman was a white supremacist who accused the black victims of “raping our women and taking over the country” before shooting. 

Publication date: June 22, 2015



Hundreds Pack into Charleston Church Sunday after Shooting