Evidence request
Roof’s lawyers file motions in federal court seeking access to any statements their client has made to authorities, as well as physical evidence and summaries of any proposed expert witnesses expected to testify.
Charged with federal hate crimes
Roof is charged with 33 counts of hate crimes by a federal grand jury. The indictment says he targeted the victims on the basis of race, in a house of worship, “in order to make his attack more notorious”. Attorney General Lynch says the federal government has not decided if it will seek the death penalty if Roof is convicted and that officials will consider factors including the wishes of the families of the shooting victims. Lynch:
The parishioners had Bibles. Dylann Roof had his .45 caliber Glock pistol and eight magazines loaded with hollow point bullets.
Three attempted murder charges
South Carolina prosecutor files attempted murder charges against Roof. A state judge already has been appointed. Federal authorities have not said whether they will pursue hate crime charges against Roof.
Weapons charge bond set at $1m
Appearing on video link, Judge Gosnell sets Roof’s bail at $1 million for the weapon-possession charge. A superior court judge must set bail for the murder charges.
Relatives of the shooting victims also speak at the hearing, with the daughter of victim Ethel Lance sobbing as she says, “I forgive you.” The mother of Tywanza Sanders tells Roof that “every fiber in my body hurts.” “Their legacies will live in love, so hate won’t win,” says Alana Simmons, the granddaughter of Rev. Daniel Simmons.
Confesses, charged
Roof confesses that he is responsible for the shootings, and is charged with nine counts of murder and one count of illegal weapons possession. Roof tells police that he almost didn’t go through with the shootings because everyone was so nice to him, but he decided he had to “go through with his mission.” Roof’s cell at the detention facility is next to Michael Slager, the white South Carolina officer charged with murder for shooting Walter Scott, an unarmed black man.
Arrested
Police arrrest Roof in Shelby, North Carolina, almost 250 miles (400 km) – about three and a half hours’ drive – away from Charleston, when local police stop his car after a citizen called in about suspicious activity. Police say Roof was “cooperative” with the officer who stopped him.