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BreakPoint: ‘Emanuel’ is the untold story of the Charleston shooting

Emanuel AME Church, founded in 1816 as a symbol of black pride and independence, became a target for one of America's most violent hate crimes on June 17, 2015. The oldest AME church in the South, it is often referred to as "Mother Emanuel." / Arbella Studios photo
Emanuel AME Church, founded in 1816 as a symbol of black pride and independence, became a target for one of America's most violent hate crimes on June 17, 2015. The oldest AME church in the South, it is often referred to as "Mother Emanuel." / Arbella Studios photo Emanuel AME Church, founded in 1816 as a symbol of black pride and independence, became a target for one of America's most violent hate crimes on June 17, 2015. The oldest AME church in the South, it is often referred to as "Mother Emanuel." / Arbella Studios photo

By John Stonestreet and David Carlson 4 min read

photo In a story headlined “Hate won’t win,” the local newspaper, The Post and Courier, details the family members’ forgiveness toward self-avowed white supremacist Dylann Roof, only 48 hours after the tragic shooting at Emanuel AME Church that took the lives of nine parishioners. / Arbella Studios photo

In June 2015, Dylann Roof, a 21-year-old white supremacist from North Carolina, drove to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and committed one of the most shocking mass murders in American history.

After entering the church, Roof asked to see the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, the church’s pastor, and then joined a Bible study with members of the congregation. They welcomed him. But Roof pulled out a pistol and started shooting.

Where to see ‘Emanuel’

Several area theaters plan 7 p.m. showings Monday and Wednesday, June 17 and 19:› Regal Hamilton Place 8, 2000 Hamilton Place Blvd.› AMC Chattanooga 18, 5080 South Terrace› AMC Chattanooga 10, 2210 Gunbarrel Road› AMC Northgate 14, 310 Northgate Mall Drive› AMC Bradley Square 12, 200 Paul Huff Parkway, Cleveland› AMC Battlefield 10, 1100 Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe› AMC Classic Walnut Square 12, 2170 E. Walnut Ave., Dalton

He killed nine of our Christian brothers and sisters in cold blood, leaving another alive to tell everyone what had happened.

He was hunted down and captured, and eventually was convicted of numerous state and federal charges. Roof currently awaits death by lethal injection.