Colorado Springs pastor offers prayers, support to Charleston church shooting victims
A Colorado Springs African Methodist Episcopal pastor said he’s devastated by the shooting at an African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Rev. Arthur B.Carter, Jr, a pastor at Payne Chapel in Colorado Springs, couldn’t believe the news about Wednesday night’s shooting.
“A sense of shock, certainly a sense of grief,” Carter said. “To know that someone came among them, sat with them and then returned and opened fire, it’s just very tragic.”
The suspect, 21-year-old Dylann Roff, was arrested this morning in Shelby, North Carolina. He’s accused of killing nine people at Emanuel AME Church.
Carter said security is important at places of worship.
“The church is not shielded from the world in which it lives,” he said. “Yesterday’s incident has now made me aware we’ve got to do more.”
Carter said the AME community will stand together during a time of crisis.
“This incident is tragic, but this incident will not destroy that church, it will not destroy God’s church and it will not destroy our continued faith and hope for humankind across the global village,” said Carter.
