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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Charleston Church Shooting Leaves 9 Dead. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired June 18, 2015 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:00:11] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The breaking news this morning: nine people dead at a black church. A killer on the run. The victims murdered inside this South Carolina church. Charleston, South Carolina, overnight.

Happening right now: an intense manhunt for the shooter.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, June 18th, 4:00 a.m. in the East.

We have this breaking news, a sad breaking news, a gunman -- a gunman is on the loose right now after shooting and killing nine people at a prayer meeting inside a Charleston, South Carolina church. Now, frantic search underway this hour for the suspect.

Here's the description, he is described as a white male in his early 20s. The city's police chief describing this shooting as a hate crime, taking place at Emanuel AME Church, one of Charleston's oldest and best known African-American churches.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREGORY G. MULLEN, CHIEF OF POLICE, CHARLESTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: This is a tragedy that no community should have to experience. It is senseless and it is unfathomable that somebody in today's society would walk into a church when people are having a prayer meeting and take their lives. And I can assure you that we are going to do everything in our power to find this individual, to lock him up and to make sure that he does not hurt anyone else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Let's go live to Charleston and bring in our producer -- CNN producer, Ashley Killough.

Tell us what you know this hour. The gun still on the loose. Eight people died on the scene, one in the hospital. And this is a town just -- just in immense grief and fear.

ASHLEY KILLOUGH, CNN PRODUCER: And shock as well. People say that this is generally considered a safe part of

Charleston. So, for something to happen like this is really surprising. People are feeling more cautious tonight. I talked to a couple of taxi drivers who said that, you know what, they may not pick up people who look like -- the man that they are looking for.

So, officials are urging caution, but there hasn't been a lot of details on where exactly the suspect could be and we are supposed to find out more information at a press conference here in a couple of hours.

BERMAN: To be clear, this happened at about 9:00 last night, a prayer at the Emanuel African-American Methodist Episcopal Church, which is an historic black church in Charleston. More than 150 years of history. A key part of the culture and the society down there.

It was during a prayer meeting. The suspect described as a 20-year- old white male wearing jeans, a sweat shirt, a Timberland boots, on the run right now. You can see it right there -- a slender build, sandy blond hair.

And there's manhunt underway in this city as people there are grieving.

Ashley, hang on one second. Don't go anywhere. I want to play sound from city officials, the mayor and the police chief who are describing this as a hate crime.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Do you believe this was a hate crime?

MULLEN: I do believe this was a hate crime.

REPORTER: Is that why the FBI is here, to investigate it as hate crime?

MULLEN: It will be investigated as a hate crime. But the FBI would be here regardless because of the size and scope of the investigation. And they are our partners. And they would be here to help us regardless. But they are here for that specific person also.

JOSEPH P. RILEY, JR., MAYOR OF CHARLESTON: The only reason someone could walk into church and shoot people praying is out of hate, the only reason. That is the most dastardly act that one can possibly imagine. And we will bring that person to justice as soon as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: There is absolutely no reason to go into a church and open fire on people in a prayer meeting.

Ashley Killough is still with us right now.

Again, a manhunt underway in Charleston. Describe the police presence, the law enforcement presence you are seeing.

KILLOUGH: Yes. So, they had a few of the streets around the church closed off for much of the past several hours. They are starting to open up some of those streets now.

One of the reasons why the streets were closed earlier is because there was a bomb threat for a few hours. That has gone away. They are no longer concerned about that. But it's been mentioned, the suspect is still out there. So, they are concerned about the area.

ROMANS: Let's talk a little bit about what the families are saying, what the people who are parishioners at this church are saying. I want to listen to the mayor describing his meeting with the grieving families. Let's listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RILEY: We just left speaking with members of the family. A heartbreaking scene I have never witnessed in my life before.

[04:05:04] And I told them that this community sends forth their love to them and that we are all in this together in the community, to help those who have lost the loved one get through this time and give them our love and support and encouragement as we bring this awful person to justice as soon as humanly possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Ashley, it's now six or seven hours after that gunman walked into the church, killed nine people and then disappeared into the night.

Are there still people on the scene, family members on the scene? What are people doing and saying?

KILLOUGH: You know, the activity in terms of the people from the area, that has died down a little bit. But for much of the night, there were probably a few dozen people who gathered in prayer circles and praying for a sense of peace, a sense of calm. They are also hoping for some justice for this situation.

But they were very passionate, very intense circles with lots of almost shouting those prayers. There was singing of worship songs as well. So, faith is really at the heart of this.

It's a very -- the city has a nickname of the holy city because of there are so many churches especially in this historic part of Charleston.

BERMAN: And I've seen a picture of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. who did attend services at this church again, because it has such a rich history. We do not yet know the identities, Ashley, of those killed, do we?

KILLOUGH: No. They are not releasing that information. Perhaps at 7:00 when we have the press conference, we might find out more. But there are reports of specific people who lost their lives, but officials aren't confirming that quite yet. They are still informing family members of the victims. They also said there were some survivors, but they are not being specific yet on how many and who they were.

BERMAN: Horrible stories, Ashley, from people inside the church. You say the white shooter came in and sat down for a period of time before standing up and open shooting. Some of the local papers there, "The Post Courier", reporting that the shooter told one of the survivors, that I want you to go tell people what I have done here, before he fled the church.

Ashley Killough for us in South Carolina, thanks so much for being with us this morning. We appreciate your reporting.

ROMANS: Church is supposed to be a place of safety, you know? It's supposed to be a safe place.

Let's bring in Robert Costa. He's a reporter with "The Washington Post", who's been on the scene in Charleston all night long.

Thank you for joining us, Robert. I mean, just a community in shock and in grief and looking for a very dangerous person on the loose at this hour.

What do you know?

ROBERT COSTA, THE WASHINGTON POST (via telephone): I have never seen anything like this in my entire life. I went to the embassy suites. This is a holding area for the families. I went to the second floor, and you have all these members of the church, families and friends of the victims, and they were being told of the news. It was a painful scene, screams, tears. It was just surreal almost to see.

You see the black community here really struggling with the nine confirmed deaths and one in the hospital. As we speak, as I talk to you right now, I'm looking at the troopers and police officers here in Charleston roaming the streets. There are canine units here still trying to search for this 21-year-old sandy blond haired suspect.

BERMAN: And, Robert, I have been reading your descriptions of what you have been seeing all night. I know it's incredibly emotional for you to be near what's going on.

At this point, describe more of the hunt right now. I have seen and heard you talk about the fatigued law enforcement officials right now on the search. Right now, are they in protective mode or do you get the sense that they're following up on leads?

COSTA: They're definitely following up on leads. So, Ashley was -- she was spot on, that a lot of the streets at 4:00 a.m. Eastern are being opened in Charleston. I huddled with a group of Charleston County law enforcement. They told me a few minutes ago, they have over 100 leads, about where this person maybe. They have canines out in certain neighborhoods here in Charleston. They are also looking in the suburbs of the city. They are not looking around the immediate area of the church.

ROMANS: Have there been threats, Robert, to this church? This is a well known congregation. It goes all the way back to 1810. You know, we talked about the King Center tweeting a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. actually preaching at this very sanctuary. A vibrant community with bible study and prayer meetings, Wednesday night prayer meetings.

Have there ever been threats to this church, do you know?

COSTA: Not recently that I know of. I have spoken with church members. When you walk around the streets here, this is the sleepy south. This has palm trees on the street, a nice park right near the church, a gas station and convenience stores. It's a very pleasant area. This is not an area you think of crime. People were just having a prayer service here. And that really stunned a lot of parishioners at this church. They think these people went praying and are just killed.

BERMAN: Robert, hang on a second. We're just going to put up some file picture we have of what this church, the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The file footage we have is old. I mean, it's a beautiful church. This was a church that existed during slavery, by the way, for black individuals in the South.

ROMANS: An important spot in the Underground Railroad, we're told.

BERMAN: Indeed, an important spot in the Underground Railroad. It was formed for slave revolt in 1800s and now this is the center of community over the last hundred plus years.

Robert Costa, I know you are in South Carolina to cover politics. Hillary Clinton was there yesterday. Jeb Bush was scheduled to be there today, but I understand he has canceled that visit.

COSTA: He has. I can confirm that. What striking is that former Governor Bush was going to have a town hall meeting with veterans at this Maritime Building, right on the harbor here. And the Maritime Center where Bush is going to have a town hall on Thursday, that's now the command center of sorts for the police and law enforcement.

ROMANS: Do we -- we are showing that file footage. Do we know where this happened? Was it in the sanctuary? Was it in a prayer room, a meeting room? Do we know?

COSTA: They are actually I believe dealing with the deceased inside the church. There's an area -- in the main area of the church, according to people there, speaking to me. That they were having a group, it was a conference room, not actually in the main area of the church, but nearby.

BERMAN: And, Robert, we are hearing these horrific tales of what went on inside. The local paper and "Post and Courier" reporting that NAACP officials are saying that the shooter sat down inside church before standing up and opening fire. There are reports that he might have said something to a survivor who essentially saying, go tell people what I have done here.

Are you picking up any of that as you speak to people on the ground?

COSTA: So, I just had an interview with Norvel Goff. He is the AME Baptist leader from South Carolina. He was with the press conference with the chief and mayor. He spoke as well, one of the three people who we spoke.

And told me that he just met with many of the victims' families. Their story to him, Norvel Goff, Baptist leader, is that the killer came in, was lingering around the prayer group, kind of quiet and may have said a few words, but wasn't joining necessarily in the prayer. But then began to open fire very suddenly after lingering by the side.

ROMANS: Wednesday night prayer group. This is pretty common. Bible study, prayer group in the evening after work on a Wednesday, probably common or publicized. Someone coming in to join in, he might be a stranger and lingering, not that unusual, in and of itself, but this turned out to be a very deadly stranger.

BERMAN: And, Robert, again, we do not know the identities of those who are dead. There are questions about the pastor at this church, a man who is also a state senator.

COSTA: Yes. I have spoken to people at the church. He was at his own church tonight, state senator. However, it should be noted the law enforcement officials here in Charleston have not officially confirmed any victim's name.

BERMAN: Clements Pinckney, who is a state senator, and also the pastor, again, you know, an influential church, a well-known church, a key church in the community down there.

ROMANS: We have a picture --

COSTA: People call it, you know what they call it on Calhoun Street tonight, they call it the heart of the African-American community here in Charleston. This is not some small neighborhood out at prayer group. This is the heart of the Baptist community, the African- American community in Charleston.

ROMANS: The Dr. Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta issued a statement regarding the shooting, obviously, and a picture -- tweeting a picture that harkens back to the civil rights movement. Dr. King at the podium preaching at Emanuel AME, and they believe that nonviolence is not just about our physical response, but include their social media communication, which is interesting, pleading for people to be restrained on social media as we look for this killer.

BERMAN: Robert Costa of "The Washington Post", we appreciate your reporting.

[04:15:01] Thank you so much for being with us. We know this has been a long night for you. And it is emotional to be around so many people grieving so much.

Robert told us moment ago, they call this church the heart of the community down there. And I think it's safe to say tonight, that heart or this morning, that heart is bruised, not broken. We'll get through this. But a bruised heart this morning.

ROMANS: And just to reset for you. There's a gunman on the loose. There are nine people dead in a black church in South Carolina, a tragedy unfolding there. The killer on the run wearing a hoodie, jeans, Timberland boots and sandy blond hair. A white man walking into that church, killing nine people. We'll follow it when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right. Our breaking news this morning: a gunman opened fire inside a Charleston, South Carolina church, killing nine people who were at a prayer meeting.

This is one of the most famous African-American churches in Charleston, South Carolina. The police chief down there describes the slaughter as a hate crime. The suspect is described as a white male in his early 20s. He is still at large. A manhunt is underway. A very tense situation this morning in Charleston.

Again, the shooter targeted the Emanuel AME Church, known as the heart of the community.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RILEY: This is the most unspeakable tragedy in historic Emanuel AME Church, mother church of the AME churches. People in prayer on a Wednesday evening, a ritual of coming together and praying and worshipping God, to have a awful person come in and shoot them is inexplicable -- obviously, the most intolerable and unbelievable act possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: This is a terrible tragedy for Charleston -- the entire city, not just the African-American community.

[04:20:02] Of course, South Carolina is the site of a lot of politics. A lot of people campaign in South Carolina. Hillary Clinton was in Charleston yesterday. She left the city before the shooting. She has tweeted her condolences.

Jeb Bush was due to hold a meeting down the street from the church. In fact, the place where he was scheduled to hold his campaign event is now the command center for police there. Jeb Bush has canceled his event in South Carolina today.

ROMANS: Wednesday night bible study, Wednesday night prayer meetings is very routine. A safe middle of the week way to kind of recharge, you know, as you go on with your lives. This is what these people were doing. They were in this conference room, in this church together worshipping and recharging about their religion. And this man walks, this early 20s sandy blond hair man, they are still looking for this man who killed nine people.

More breaking news coverage, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Breaking news this morning in Charleston, South Carolina. Police are searching for a gunman who opened fire inside an African- American church killing nine people there. The city's police chief says he considers this a hate crime.

Right now, law enforcement looking for a white male in his early 20s walked into the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shortly after 9:00 p.m. and began firing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[04:25:05] RILEY: Our city police department, county police department, the state law enforcement division, other municipalities, the FBI, and others are all combined and working with us to make sure that we catch this awful person and bring him to justice as soon as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Sandy blond hair, jeans, hoodie, Timberland shoes, walked in and walked out.

Jeb Bush was scheduled to hold a town hall meeting in Charleston today. Now, that event has been cancelled. Hillary Clinton's event was in Charleston for campaign events yesterday. She left the city before that shooting.

But a manhunt on the way here, and there are a lot of questions this morning, John, were there cameras around there? Do they know what this person really looks like? There are survivors we are told who are able to talk to authorities about what they saw and what this gunman looked like, again, in his early 20s. Officials there saying this was indeed a hate crime. Now, the FBI involved.

BERMAN: Yes, local police, state police, the FBI involved in this active manhunt. There were helicopters overhead. Streets have been closed down. Law enforcement in fatigues involved in this manhunt right now.

We just spoke to Robert Costa of "The Washington Post" who has been with witnesses and leaders all night, who are saying that this shooter, this white male, walked into this church and was lingering for sometime before he opened fire. Eight people died on the scene, one died later in the hospital.

Again, there are survivors. We do not know how many survivors. We are getting this information throughout the morning.

ROMANS: This church, a historic church, Martin Luther King Jr. has preached at this church. This church is called the heart of Charleston. Nine people murdered inside that sanctuary. We are live right after the break.