RICHMOND, Va. -- It is a tragedy impacting those far from the Charleston city limits -- nine people gunned down at the Immanuel AME Church Wednesday night during a Bible study meeting.
"People don't anticipate that you are going to walk into a church and your life is going to end," said Charleston native Pamela Gilliard Thompson, who has worshiped at the AME Church in Charleston and knows of the pastor that was killed.
Pamela Gilliard Thompson
"For the pastor and his family I'm heartbroken," said Thompson, who described Reverend Clementa Pinckney as a "good man" with ties to Richmond. In fact, she said he stopped at the 3rd Street Bethel AME Church in Jackson Ward during past church group trips.
Reverend Clementa Pinckney
"They worshiped that Sunday with us it was a very casual Sunday. We made bag lunches and sent them on back to South Carolina," Thompson said.
It has been reported that the alleged shooter Dylann Roof spent nearly an hour in the Bible study class before opening fire inside the church.
Thompson said it was very much the personality of Pinckney to welcome individuals like Roof to his church but still the tragedy has her perplexed.
"I am fathomed how he had the ability to get up after communicating and dining with them and then proceed to kill them," Thompson said.
Thompson hopes churches remain open and welcoming following the tragedy.
The pastor of 3rd Street Bethel AME Church said they are planning a prayer service for the victims for Friday at 7 p.m.
