A police manhunt is underway in Charleston, SC for a white younger male, who is considered armed and dangerous after what authorities are calling a hate crime over night.

At a news conference at 5 AM (CST) police confirmed that a pastor including 8 others were shot and killed at a historic black church in downtown Charleston about 9PM Thursday night. Among the dead is Sen. Clementa Pinckney.  Authorities announced at the first news conference this morning, a manhunt is on for a young white male, between the age of 18-24.

Police Chief Greg Mullen said-

the attack at the Emanuel AME Church was a hate crime, and police were looking for a white male in his early 20s. Mullen said the scene was chaotic when police arrived, and the officers thought they had the suspect tracked with a police dog, but remains at large.

At the news conference this morning, a picture of the suspect and description of the getaway car was released.

Charleston Police Department
Charleston Police Department
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John Li / Getty Images
John Li / Getty Images
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We will continue to update this story as the information becomes available.

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