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Dylann Roof on murder charges over Charleston shooting | Dylann Roof on murder charges over Charleston shooting |
(35 minutes later) | |
The man suspected of shooting dead nine people at an African-American church in Charleston has been charged with nine counts of murder and one weapons possession charge, police say. | The man suspected of shooting dead nine people at an African-American church in Charleston has been charged with nine counts of murder and one weapons possession charge, police say. |
Suspect Dylann Roof, 21, is due to make his first court appearance on Friday. | Suspect Dylann Roof, 21, is due to make his first court appearance on Friday. |
Police are treating the killings at the Emanuel AME Church on Wednesday night in South Carolina as a hate crime. | Police are treating the killings at the Emanuel AME Church on Wednesday night in South Carolina as a hate crime. |
He was arrested the following day more than 200 miles away in North Carolina and then flown back to Charleston. | He was arrested the following day more than 200 miles away in North Carolina and then flown back to Charleston. |
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has said Mr Roof should face execution. | South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has said Mr Roof should face execution. |
"We will absolutely want him to have the death penalty," she told NBC News. | "We will absolutely want him to have the death penalty," she told NBC News. |
Mr Roof's first court hearing is set for 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT), but it is likely he will appear via a video feed and not in person. | Mr Roof's first court hearing is set for 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT), but it is likely he will appear via a video feed and not in person. |
The victims of the shooting included a state senator. | The victims of the shooting included a state senator. |
President Barack Obama described the event as yet another tragedy caused by guns in society. | President Barack Obama described the event as yet another tragedy caused by guns in society. |
The city's mayor Joseph Riley called the massacre an act of "pure, pure concentrated evil". | The city's mayor Joseph Riley called the massacre an act of "pure, pure concentrated evil". |
He said that while the community had faced challenges, nothing in the past century matched this shooting. | He said that while the community had faced challenges, nothing in the past century matched this shooting. |
First Lady Michelle Obama, who is travelling in Italy noted the particular horror associated with the shooting taking place in a church. | |
"We have seen too many tragedies like this," Ms Obama said. "I pray for a community that I know is in pain with the hope that tragedies like these will one day come to an end." | |
The victims | |
The victims of the Charleston shooting | |
After the shooting, Mr Roof was arrested in Shelby when police received a tip from a florist who noticed his distinctive haircut. | After the shooting, Mr Roof was arrested in Shelby when police received a tip from a florist who noticed his distinctive haircut. |
"I saw the pictures of him with the bowl cut. I said, 'I've seen that car for some reason.' I look over, and it's got a South Carolina tag on it," florist Debbie Dills told the Shelby Star. | "I saw the pictures of him with the bowl cut. I said, 'I've seen that car for some reason.' I look over, and it's got a South Carolina tag on it," florist Debbie Dills told the Shelby Star. |
She followed Mr Roof for 25 miles until police made the arrest. | She followed Mr Roof for 25 miles until police made the arrest. |
CCTV footage showed the gunman entering the church wearing a grey sweatshirt before a bible study on Wednesday night. | CCTV footage showed the gunman entering the church wearing a grey sweatshirt before a bible study on Wednesday night. |
Charleston County Coroner Rae Wilson said: "The suspect entered the group and was accepted by them, as they believed that he wanted to join them in this bible study". | Charleston County Coroner Rae Wilson said: "The suspect entered the group and was accepted by them, as they believed that he wanted to join them in this bible study". |
Local media reports that Mr Roof sat with the worshippers for nearly an hour before perpetrating the massacre. | Local media reports that Mr Roof sat with the worshippers for nearly an hour before perpetrating the massacre. |
More details have been emerging about the 21-year-old, with one acquaintance saying he had complained that "blacks were taking over the world". | More details have been emerging about the 21-year-old, with one acquaintance saying he had complained that "blacks were taking over the world". |
Joey Meek said that he and Mr Roof got drunk a few weeks ago, and his friend said "someone needed to do something about it for the white race". | Joey Meek said that he and Mr Roof got drunk a few weeks ago, and his friend said "someone needed to do something about it for the white race". |
When Roof was identified as the suspect, a photo emerged showing him standing in a wooded area wearing a jacketed emblazoned with flags from apartheid-era South Africa and Rhodesia - now black-led Zimbabwe. | When Roof was identified as the suspect, a photo emerged showing him standing in a wooded area wearing a jacketed emblazoned with flags from apartheid-era South Africa and Rhodesia - now black-led Zimbabwe. |
Whether Mr Roof had a connection to any of the 16 white supremacist organisations that operate in South Carolina is not clear. | Whether Mr Roof had a connection to any of the 16 white supremacist organisations that operate in South Carolina is not clear. |
However, the massacre in one of the nation's oldest and most prominent traditionally black churches has served as a reminder that black churches have long been a target for violence throughout the history of US race relations. | However, the massacre in one of the nation's oldest and most prominent traditionally black churches has served as a reminder that black churches have long been a target for violence throughout the history of US race relations. |
Charleston officials are planning a prayer vigil for Friday evening. | Charleston officials are planning a prayer vigil for Friday evening. |