11:32 a.m. UPDATE – U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch says a suspect is in custody in the fatal shooting inside a historic black church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.

“I can confirm that there is a suspect in custody,” she said.

She gave no other details.

Nine people including the pastor were killed in the Wednesday night shooting. An intense manhunt followed.

Police earlier identified the suspect as 21-year-old Dylann Roof of Lexington, South Carolina. They released surveillance video photographs of the gunman and a dark colored sedan he may have used to get away.

Charleston police Chief Greg Mullen says Roof stayed at a prayer meeting for nearly an hour before he opened fire. Among the dead was state Sen. Clementa Pinckney.

Authorities have called the shooting a hate crime.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Police in Charleston, South Carolina have released photos of the suspect they believe opened fire in a historic black church last night, killing nine people.  The photos were taken from surveillance video.  Authorities say the man began shooting during a church service at the black Emanuel AME Church. One of the dead is the church’s pastor. Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen describes the suspect as a white man in his early 20s, with sandy blonde hair, wearing a distinctive sweatshirt.   Chief Mullen says the suspect stayed for almost an hour before gunfire erupted. Mullen gave the details at a Thursday morning news conference. He didn’t elaborate. At the news conference, he also identified the victims of the Wednesday church night shooting as six females and three males. He says names won’t be released until families are notified. Mullen says the suspect is a “very dangerous individual.” Mullen says police don’t know if anyone was targeted besides the church itself. Earlier, Mullen said he had no reason to think the suspect has left the Charleston area, but is distributing information about him and the vehicle around the country.