Responding to the Aftermath of the Mother Emanuel AME Massacre

The purpose of this award under the OVC Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program is to enable the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVC) to support the victims of the June 17, 2015, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. In this incident, a 21-year-old white male entered the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. After being welcomed by the congregation and participating in the service, he allegedly executed nine of the 12 church members who were present. The murder victims included the chief pastor, Reverend Clementa Pinckney, who was also a South Carolina State Senator. Two of the three parishioners who survived did so by pretending to be dead while the third witness was told by the alleged shooter she was spared to tell others what occurred. There is a continuing need to provide mental health services and other support for victims, witnesses, and first responders involved in this tragedy. CA/NCF