Man accused in Charleston church shooting indicted on dozens of federal

Federal hate crime charges were filed today against Dylann Roof in the racially charged Charleston church massacre that shook the country, according to court documents. The source, who has seen the indictment, spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

South Carolina does not have a hate crimes law, which spurred the need for federal charges, Lynch said in her media conference.

Last month, two federal public defenders were added to Roof’s legal team, a sign that federal charges would be added to the nine murder, three attempted murder and firearms charges he already faces.

The move has been expected since Roof’s arrest after the June 17 shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in which nine people were shot after a Bible study.

His state trial is scheduled to start July 11, 2016. The indictments include a dozen allegations of obstructing someone’s religious practice, a charge that can potentially carry the death penalty in the federal system. Sharonda Singleton, DePayne Middleton Doctor, and Daniel Simmons Sr.; and Cynthia Hurd, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lance, and Susie Jackson.