President Obama on Charleston Church Shooting: 'I’ve Had To Make Statements Like This Too Many Times'

President Barack Obama addressed the nation about the fatal shootings of nine people at Emaunel AME Church on Thursday (June 18) from the press room of The White House in Washington D.C.

The 53-year-old Commander in Chief spoke about the horrific shooting and subsequent hate crime investigation.

“This morning I spoke with, and Vice President Biden spoke with, Mayor Joe Riley and other leaders of Charleston to express our deep sorrow over the senseless murders that took place last night,” he said. “Michelle and I know several members of the AME church, we knew their pastor, Clementa Pinckney…To say our thoughts and prayers are with them and their community doesn’t say enough to convey the heartache and the sadness and the anger that we feel.”

He continued, “I don’t need to be constrained about the emotions that tragedies like these raise. I’ve had to make statements like this too many times. Communities like this have had to endure tragedies like this too many times. We don’t have all the facts but we know innocent people were killed because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun.”

Also pictured below: President Obama‘s wife Michelle arrives at the United States Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo that same day in Milan, Italy.

15+ pictures inside of Michelle Obama attending an event in Milan…