Pastor, 8 others, fatally shot at church in Charleston, SC ( SUSPECT IN CHURCH FOR AN HOUR)

The shooting happened at an historic black church in   downtown Charleston, South Carolina.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A white man opened fire during a prayer meeting inside a historic black church in downtown Charleston, killing nine people, including the pastor, in an assault authorities described as a hate crime.

The victims were six females and three males, Mullen said Thursday morning. He did not give other details and said names would be released after families were notified.

But State House Minority leader Todd Rutherford told The Associated Press that the Emanuel AME Church's pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, was among those killed.