New charges in Charleston church shooting: attempted

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, on June 17, a gunman – allegedly Roof – opened fire on a Bible study at Charleston’s historically Black Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, killing nine people, including the church’s pastor, politician Clementa Pinckney, and injuring another.

Solicitor Scarlett A. Wilson of the ninth judicial circuit announced today she presented three additional charges – for Attempted Murder – against Roof to the grand jury, “and the Defendant was subsequently indicted for those charges”, according to a press release distributed by her office.

Roof also was indicted on three counts of attempted murder for the victims who survived the massacre.

Roof was arrested last month and charged with nine counts of murder, one for each person killed. He was also charged with possessing a weapon.

Roof’s defense attorney did not immediately return a message Tuesday seeking comment. The accused murderer’s next court date is expected for October, the AP reported.

A state judge already has been appointed.

As CBS noted after the indictment, federal authorities could still file hate crime charges against Roof.

An online manifesto linked to Roof, discovered after the shooting, espoused white supremacist ideology as well as a call to action.

A wave of support for the flag’s removal from the South Carolina capitol grounds has faced resistance from those who see the flag as a sign of Southern pride, not of racism, and by a 2000 law preventing the flag from being displaced.

Survivors told police that Roof, who is white, shouted racist epithets during the massacre.

State senators gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would remove the flag from its pole in front of the Statehouse. The state’s Senate approved the move on Monday and the motion was sent to the House.