Shooting and arrest on Brown’s death anniversary
A gunfight occurs between four policemen and 18-year-old Harris on the periphery of demonstrations commemorating the killing a year ago of Brown. Harris is shot and critically wounded by the police. County prosecutors file charges against Harris for felony assault on law enforcement officer. Authorities say that the shooting is not related to the Brown protests. Attorney General Lynch:
The weekend’s events were peaceful and promoted a message of reconciliation and healing. But incidents of violence, such as we saw last night, are contrary to both that message, along with everything that all of us, including this group, have worked to achieve over the past year.
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.