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Earlier this week, an unthinkable act of violence erupted when 21-year-old Dylann Storm Roof opened fire on unsuspecting victims at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
According to ABC News, the killer had sat in a prayer meeting for an hour before firing his gun into the congregation. The church's pastor and a South Carolina state senator were among the nine victims who lost their lives during this nightmare. The gunman has now been arrested.
As the horrific news of this story unravels, there are brave tales of survival. One survivor, a 5-year-old girl, was told by her grandmother to play dead when the firing started – her quickness to react saved her life. ABC 4 reports that she is now resting and recovering at a local hospital.
President Barack Obama has spoken out, saying, 'I've had to make statements like this too many times. Once again someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun.
'Let's be clear – at some point we as a country have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence doesn't happen in other advanced countries. At some point the American people will have to get to grips with it.'
Michelle Obama and their two daughters have also halted their European tour to pay respects to the Charleston victims by lighting candles in Milan's Duomo cathedral yesterday.
Our thoughts are with the victims of this devastating event and we hope that this brave young girl is back on her feet soon.
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