(VOVworld) – At least 9 people were killed in a shooting at an historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday.

June 17, 2015 worshippers gather to pray at a hotel parking lot across the street from the scene of a shooting. (Photo: David Goldman/AP)

Charleston police said the gunman opened fire at people praying at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest AME church in the South.

Eight people died on the spot and another died in hospital.

Charleston police said on Twitter that the suspect was described as a clean-shaven white male in his early 20s and is still at large.

The area has been blockaded and about 40 people were evacuated from the church.