The suspect, Dylann Roof killed nine people in Wednesday’s deadly shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dylann Roof, the suspected gunman who killed nine people during a shooting in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 in Charleston city of the State of South Carolina has been arrested and taken into custody in North Carolina, senior law enforcement official said, CNN reported. Charleston City Police reportedly confirmed that the 21-year-old Dylann Roof of Lexington, South Carolina, is the suspect in Wednesday's deadly shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

He is said to have been arrested on June 18, 2015 morning about three hours away near Shelby, North Carolina, law enforcement authorities said. CNN further reported citing the Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen that the man spent an hour in a prayer meeting at the Church on Wednesday night before he opened fire. A law enforcement official says witnesses told them the suspect stood up and said he was there "to shoot black people."

Charleston City Police Chief Gregory Mullen said eight of the victims were killed inside the church, while another person died shortly afterwards, BBC reported. “There were eight deceased individuals inside the church. Two individuals were transported to hospital. One of them had died,” BBC quoted him as saying in a news briefing. The Police Chief who is cited as referring to the killing as “hate crime”, said, “It is unfathomable that somebody in today’s society would walk into a church when people are having a prayer meeting and take their lives.” Reports say the Church’s pastor, State Senator Clementa Pinckney was among those killed.

The Charleston Post and Courier reportedly cited a woman who survived the shooting as telling her family that the gunman said he was letting her live so she could report what happened. The woman reportedly disclosed that the gunman had sat in the church before standing and opening fire. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley is said to have described the shooting as “the most unspeakable” tragedy. South Carolina Senator Rim Scott on his part reportedly tweeted, “My heart is breaking for Charleston and South Carolina tonight.”