A white gunman , who is currently on the run, on Thursday morning shot and killed nine people in Charleston, South Carolina, during a Bible study session at one of the nation's oldest and most prominent African-American churches, authorities said.
According to the church's website, Emanuel AME Church -- often referred to as 'Mother Emanuel' -- is the oldest African Methodist Episcopa (AME0 church in the south and has one of the largest black congregations south of Baltimore, Maryland.
The church played an important role in the state's history, including the slavery era and the Civil Rights movement.
"This is a hate crime," Charleston Police Chief Gregory Mullen said early Thursday near the scene at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Among the victims was the church's pastor, the Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, 42, a Democratic member of the state Senate, two sources told NBC News.
Mullen described the suspect as a slender 21-year-old white man with sandy blond hair, wearing a gray sweatshirt or hoodie, jeans and Timberland boots. A reward will be offered later Thursday, he said.
At least six ambulances were seen in the area of the shooting.