WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 – Charleston News, Sports, Weather
CHARLESTON, S.C.–Sharonda A. Coleman-Singleton has been identified as one of the nine victims killed in Wednesday night’s mass shooting during a bible study inside the Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston.
According to the church’s website, she was a pastor at the historical black church which dates back to the early 1800’s. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also spoke at the church in 1962.
Coleman-Singleton was a speech language pathologist and girls track and field coach at Goose Creek High School. Originally from New Jersey, she called Summerville home.
According to her Facebook page, she had been employed at the Berkeley Co. School District since 2007.
After news of her untimely death, friends took to social media express their outrage and condolences.
“I am very saddened to have heard of Sharonda’s passing. I will miss her a lot. I worked with her at
Goose Creek High,” wrote Suzanne Linde on Facebook. “I was very blessed to have known her and wish the family my deepest condolences in this tragic time of loss. I’m feeling sad, lost and depressed too. She is now an angel of GOD and she is sitting on GOD’S right hand knowing she was a faithful servant of GOD.”
“No! No, no, no, no. I cannot fathom this. I cannot. I met you briefly while we were stationed in SC, and our boys went to school together. I was in awe of your strength and beauty. It’s not fair,” stated Amanda Bower.
Jimmy Huskey, Principal of Goose Creek High School said, “Mrs. Singleton was a true professional at Goose Creek High School. She cared about her students and was an advocate for them, always willing to listen to and talk with them. She was always there with a smile and ready to help. Mrs. Singleton will be deeply missed by the ‘Gator Nation’ and we can never replace her as a member of our team.”
Mrs. Sharonda Singleton attended South Carolina State University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology in May of 1991. She went on to receive a Masters of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Montclair State University in 1993. Mrs. Singleton was a passionate speech/language pathologist with more than 13 years of experience, 11 of those years being spent with school districts. Mrs. Singleton worked for both Clayton County Public Schools and Gwinnett County Public Schools before joining Berkeley County School District. She served as a speech/language teacher at Stratford High School and for the last eight years, a speech/language pathologist at Goose Creek High School. She was also the head coach of the girls’ track team at the school.
“As the head girls’ track coach, she was dedicated to her athletes and worked countless hours to help them obtain their team and individual goals,” said Huskey.
Dr. Kelly Wulf, Director of Special Services for Berkeley County School District said, “Sharonda cared deeply about her students, going the extra mile to ensure they reached their maximum potential in the classroom as a Speech/Language Pathologist and on the track, as a coach. She had an innate ability to meet students where they were and to keep pushing them to succeed. She was an integral part of the school community and the Speech/Language team. Sharonda has always gone above and beyond what was expected for her students. She was an avid advocate for her students with disabilities. Her loss will be felt even more because of her passion for students and the presence that she exuded in the school community and with the Office of Special Services.”
Authorities say the killer has been identified as 21-year-old Dylann Roof. According to the suspect’s Facebook page he is from Columbia, S.C. and a graduate of White Knoll High School.
Columbia is approximately located two hours from ‘The Holy City.’
Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen confirmed shortly after noon on Thursday that Roof who he says shot to death nine people taking part in a bible study inside the Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday shortly after 9 p.m. has been arrested in Shelby, North Carolina.
Mullen said he was arrested during a traffic stop. He added that investigators are flying out to North Carolina to begin questioning the suspect and collecting evidence.
Shortly after the deadly shooting, Governor Nikki Haley issued the following statement:
“Michael, Rena, Nalin and I are praying for the victims and families touched by tonight’s senseless tragedy at Emanuel AME Church,” Haley stated. “While we do not yet know all of the details, we do know that we’ll never understand what motivates anyone to enter one of our places of worship and take the life of another. Please join us in lifting up the victims and their families with our love and prayers.”
Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen told WCIV-TV that Roof sat inside the church at 110 Calhoun Street for about an hour before he stood up about 9:05 p.m. and started shooting. Eight people died inside the church and a ninth died at the hospital.
Six of the victims were female and three were male. One of the victims has also been identified as Senator Clementa Pinckney. The longtime state lawmaker was the pastor of the church. He had served in the General Assembly for 18 years. He was 41-years-old.
“He was the most kind, gentle man in the Senate and I am not just saying that now. He was quiet …until he spoke with that beautiful Barry White voice. His words were always well thought out, not just words,” State Sen. Katrina Shealy told MSN-TV. “He always stopped by to ask how you were doing and shake your hand or pat you on the back. He was a good man.”
The Emanuel AME Church is one of the oldest African-American churches in the south. Nicknamed “Mother Emanual,” the church dates back to 1816. Denmark Vesey, a slave who organized a major
slave uprising in Charleston, was one of the church’s founders.
Authorities say last night’s deadly church shooting is being considered a hate crime.
“The only reason someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of hate, the only reason,” longtime Charleston Mayor Joe Riley told WCSC-TV. “It is the most dastardly act that one can possibly imagine, and we will bring that person to justice as soon as possible.”
Roof’s uncle told Reuters that Roof got a .45 caliber handgun from his father as a birthday present in April, when he turned 21. The family member told the news agency that he had recognized his nephew from surveillance image.
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush was scheduled to campaign Thursday in Charleston. However, his camp says his appearance in ‘The Palmetto State’ has been canceled “due to the tragic events unfolding in South Carolina tonight”
The Reverend Al Sharpton is said to be headed to Charleston to help comfort the families.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was in the Charleston area hours earlier before the shooting occurred. She took to social media to express her sympathy to the residents of the Charleston area and the victims.
“Heartbreaking news from Charleston – my thoughts and prayers are with you all,” she said in a Tweet.
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