Charleston announces fund distribution after church slayings

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Charleston officials are announcing the distribution of money raised by a memorial fund following the shootings of nine parishioners at Emanuel AME church earlier this year. Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. on Thursday is announcing the formula of how several million dollars donated to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund are being distributed. The fund was established following the June 17 shootings at the church in Charleston. The final amount raised is expected to be released Thursday. The fund was created to pay for the funeral expenses of the shooting victims with any excess money going to the AME Church for use as determined by the church leadership. Millions more were donated to scholarship and other memorial funds in the aftermath of the shootings.