Churches across Indiana are holding vigils to stand in solidarity with the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, S. C., where authorities say suspected 21-year-old Dylann Roof opened fire and killed nine people including the church pastor during a prayer meeting Wednesday night.
Indiana Conference AME Church Elder Samuel Sumner says numerous AME churches are holding vigils in Indianapolis, Bloomington, Noblesville and other cities to show support.
Sumner says despite the tragedy, church doors should always remain open for those who choose to enter, have fellowship and worship.
"We certainly open the doors to anyone and everyone," he says. "We're trusting in God first, but we're trusting that people come for the right reason."
However, Sumner says society needs to find ways to address growing incidents of gun violence nationwide. He says this remains especially the case for those who are diagnosed as mentally disturbed.
St. John AME Church is Indianapolis is planning their vigil at 6 p.m. Thursday night.
Bethel AME Church in Bloomington is holding a prayer gathering at 6 p.m. Thursday.
The Latest In The Shooting Investigation
Police have arrested Roof for Wednesday night's shooting after a several hour-long manhunt.
He is the only suspect.
As NPR reports, police are calling the shooting a hate crime and have security footage that they say shows Roof entering the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Roof, police said, sat with the congregation for about an hour before he opened fire at around 9 p.m. ET. He left the church in a black sedan, unleashing an overnight manhunt that involved local and federal law enforcement.
Police apprehended the lone suspect during a traffic stop in Shelby, N.C., an almost four-hour drive from Charleston.
The Charleston County coroner has been identified the nine victims as Cynthia Hurd, 54; Daniel Simmons Sr., 74; Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41; Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45; Ethel Lance, 70; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Myra Thompson, 59; Susie Jackson, 87; and Depayne Middleton Doctor, 49.
