What was the name of the gunman who killed nine people at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina?

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Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

The gunman who killed nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015, was named Dylann Roof. Roof, a 21-year-old white supremacist, entered the church during a Bible study session and opened fire on the congregants, killing nine people and injuring three others. The victims were Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Myra Thompson, and Rev. Clementa Pinckney.

Roof was arrested the following day in Shelby, North Carolina, and later charged with 33 federal hate crimes, including hate crimes resulting in death, obstruction of religion, and firearms offenses. He was also charged with nine counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder in state court.

Roof was ultimately convicted of all charges and sentenced to death in both state and federal court.

The Charleston church shooting was one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history and sparked renewed debates over gun control and racial tensions in the country.