On June 17 , 2015 , 21-year-old Dylann Roof entered the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and sat in on part of a Bible study before shooting and killing nine people . Senior pastor Clementa Pinckney , who also served as a state senator , was among those killed during the attack . The deceased also included congregation members Susie Jackson , 87 ; Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr. , 74 ; Ethel Lance , 70 ; Myra Thompson , 59 ; Cynthia Hurd , 54 ; Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor , 49 ; Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton , 45 ; and Tywanza Sanders , 26 . The attack garnered national attention , and sparked a debate on historical racism , Confederate symbolism in Southern states , and gun violence , in part based on Roof 's online postings . On July 10 , 2015 , the Confederate battle flag was removed from the South Carolina State House . A memorial service on the campus of the College of Charleston was attended by President Barack Obama , Michelle Obama , Vice President Joe Biden , Jill Biden , and Speaker of the House John Boehner
killing nine people
Charleston church shooting
Charleston, South Carolina