In the wake of 9 people killed in Charleston, South Carolina by a 21-year-old, Dylan Roof, another African-American Chruch has suffered another blow in North Carolina after a church was set on fire. Officials have revealed that the church was set on fire on purpose, and are trying to determine if it is an arson or a hate crime.
At this time, investigators have no direct evidence that the fire was a hate crime,That is one of many possibilities, and investigators are following the evidence to determine is responsible for the fire -- Charlotte Fire Department Spokeswoman Cynthia Robbins Shah-Khan
A 911 call around 1am on Wednesday reported the incident :
Briar Creek Road, the Baptist Church at Briar Creek Road … it’s on fire, It’s really big.
Within an hour, about 75 firefighters arrive at the scene, but the church was already engulfed in flames, causing more than $250,000 worth of damages to the church
Pastor Mannix Kinsey had revealed that about 85 people worship in the Briar Creek Baptist Church and most of them are African-Americans, and hope that the church set on fire is not a hate crime.
The pastor also said he had a message for whoever is behind the burning of the church:
Honestly, I can speak for this church,and we've already forgiven them and we want to move forward. And we are hoping this is an opportunity for Christ to show himself in their hearts.