Jeb Bush cancels Charleston trip after shooting

Jeb Bush canceled a campaign event he had planned in Charleston, S.C., on Thursday after a shooting at an African-American church in the city left nine people dead.



“Governor Bush’s thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and families affected by this tragedy,” his campaign said in a statement.



The former Florida governor launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday and was in the middle of a four-day swing through the early-voting states.



{mosads}Police are searching for the shooter, who allegedly attended a prayer meeting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston for about an hour before opening fire on the congregation.



Nine people are dead, including the church’s pastor, Rev. Clementa Pinckney.



Police in Charleston say they’re questioning three people who reportedly survived the shooting, which took place Wednesday night after 9 p.m.



The police in Charleston have characterized the shooting as a hate crime, and are coordinating the manhunt with the FBI and other federal agencies.



South Carolina is the second primary state on the calendar in 2016 and has been an early focus of many of the presidential candidates.



Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a speech on the economy in Charleston on Wednesday.

 Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a two-day visit to the state planned on Friday and Saturday.