Good morning. Here are some of the stories we’re following today:
1. Remembering the Victims of Charleston Shooting
They were reverends and mentors, one was a librarian and another a recent college graduate. The nine victims of a shooting Wednesday night at the historically black Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church ranged from ages 26 to 87 — six women and three men who shared a love of family and faith. Read more in NEWS.
2. Charleston Shooting Suspect Had Troubled Past
Dylann Roof, the white man suspected of massacring the nine black worshipers, was arrested twice this year and had recently complained about "blacks taking over the world," a friend of his said Thursday. According to him, Roof recently went on a rant about the Trayvon Martin case and riots in Baltimore over the death of a black man in police custody. Read more in NEWS.
3. Nagging Doubts Led to Shooting Suspect’s Arrest
A North Carolina woman's phone call led to the arrest of Roof after she spotted him driving, but she told NBC News that she almost went on her way to work without reporting the suspicious car. When Debbie Dills realized it was Roof, "I said to myself and to the Lord, you had me where you needed me to be." Read more in NEWS.
4. Escaped Prisoners Placed on Most Wanted List
David Sweat and Richard Matt — still on the loose after staging a dramatic prison escape in upstate New York almost two weeks ago — were added to the U.S. Marshals' "15 Most Wanted" list of fugitives. There have been no confirmed sightings of either convict. Read more in NEWS.
5. Missing Toddler’s Body Found After Floods Recede
A 2-year-old's body was found Thursday after he was swept out of his father's arms and down a rain-swollen Oklahoma creek on Wednesday night as the family tried to flee rising waters caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill. Read more in NEWS.
6. Lester Holt Named Anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News’
Starting Monday, Holt will anchor the broadcast during the week after serving as full-time anchor of "Weekend Nightly News" since 2007, it was announced Thursday. "Lester has done outstanding work for NBC News over the last 10 years, and he's performed remarkably well over the last few months under very tough circumstances," said Andrew Lack, chairman of NBC News and MSNBC. Read more in NEWS.
