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Nine people were killed late Wednesday at a historic black church in Charleston, S.C. after a white gunman walked in during a prayer meeting and began shooting.

Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen told reporters early Thursday that the gunman, described as a clean-shaven man in his early 20s, was still at large and "extremely dangerous."

"This is a tragedy that no community should have to experience," Mullen said. "It is senseless and unfathomable in today's society that someone would walk into a church during a prayer meeting and take their lives."

"The only reason that someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of hate," said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley. "It is the most dastardly act that one could possibly imagine, and we will bring that person to justice ... This is one hateful person."

Mullen said that the shooting would be investigated as a hate crime, but would not elaborate further. He also announced that a reward for information leading to the shooter's capture would be offered Thursday.

As Mullen and Riley updated the news media, a group of pastors huddled together praying in a circle across the street.

Earlier, police moved members of the news media back away from the site due to what they called an "imminent" threat. They did not release any details.

Authorities said the shooting took place at approximately 9 p.m. local time. Police would not immediately confirm the identities of the victims. Mullen said there were survivors, but did not say how many, or how many were inside the church at the time of the shooting.

It was also not immediately clear whether Clementa Pinckney, the church's pastor and a member of the South Carolina state Senate, was a victim of the shooting. Antjuan Seawright, a spokesman for state Senate Democrats, told the Associated Press he hadn't heard from Pinkney or his family.

"We are praying," Seawright said.

Police described the suspect as having a small or slender build. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt with blue jeans and Timberland boots, and was clean shaven.

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