Church suspect’s friend being investigated

Roof is facing nine murder charges and three attempted murder charges.

His lawyers say they’d like him to plead guilty but that they can’t advise him to do so until they know if the government will pursue death. The gag order remains in effect until the hearing is held.

His remarks came during a hearing in Charleston over whether a judge will release 911 calls and police reports about the June 17 massacre during a Bible study meeting at Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church.

A law enforcement source told CBS News’ Pat Milton that eye witness told authorities that Roof stood up in the church and said words to the effect that he was there to shoot black people, and then uttered other derogatory remarks.

According to the report, though, the judge will let 911 call transcripts available for release.

Attorneys for the media argued at least some of the documents should be released to give the public an open look at how local agencies responded to the church shooting, but agreed protecting the victims was a priority.

An acquaintance of accused Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof is himself the focus of a federal investigation for supposedly lying to investigators and withholding information, news media reported Wednesday.

Attorneys for various news organizations, including The Associated Press, and the victims’ families agreed to meet with Nicholson behind closed doors to review the material and decide what should be released.

Nicholson expressed concerns early on that the publicity surrounding the case could jeopardize Roof’s right to a fair trial as well as the victims’ rights to protection. Roof also faces dozens of federal charges including hate crimes and obstruction of the practice of religion. Photos of Roof posing with the Confederate flag circulated on social media, leading to a vote by South Carolina’s legislature to remove the rebel flag from a memorial on the state capitol grounds.