On June 17, 2015, a tragic shooting occurred at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. During a prayer service, a gunman, later identified as Dylann Roof, opened fire, killing nine people and injuring one. The victims were members of the church, which has a significant history in the African American community. The shooting was motivated by racial hatred, as Roof expressed white supremacist beliefs. The incident sparked national conversations about gun control, racism, and the need for social change. In 2017, Roof was sentenced to death for his crimes, highlighting the ongoing issues of violence and discrimination in the United States.