Social Justice
Dylann Roof sentenced to death for Charleston church massacre
A jury has handed down a sentence of death for Dylann Roof, who was convicted of the hate crime mass murder of nine people at a North Charleston, SC church.
A jury has handed down a death sentence to Dylann Roof, who was convicted of the 2015 hate crime mass murder of nine people at a North Charleston, SC church.
Dylann Roof sentenced
Judge Richard Gergel will formally sentence Roof on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Roof told the jury he still feels he had no choice, reports CNN:
“In my confession to the FBI I told them that I had to do it, and obviously that’s not really true. … I didn’t have to do anything,” Roof said as he made his own five-minute closing argument in the penalty phase of his federal trial. “But what I meant when I said that was, I felt like I had to do it, and I still do feel like I had to do it.”
“From what I’ve been told, I have a right to ask you to give me a life sentence, but I’m not sure what good that will do anyway,” Roof said. “But what I will say is only one of you has to disagree with the other jurors.”
His statement followed a prosecutor’s impassioned, two-hour argument in a Charleston courtroom urging jurors to give Roof the death penalty instead of their other option, life in prison without possibility of parole.
Hate crime
Roof, an open white supremacist, shot and killed nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston in June 2015.
Jurors convicted him last month of federal murder and hate crimes charges.
Ohio shooting claims life of sister and brother
Mother demands justice after 14-year-old brutally jumped at a Maryland high school
Marilyn Mosby not pardoned by Joe Biden despite efforts
$310M awarded to parents of teen killed on Orlando thrill ride
Fundraiser started following influencer Dominique Brown’s sudden death
Beloved journalist, Robin Ayers, passes away at 44
Family seeks justice for South Carolina 6th grader who survived suicide attempt
Florida woman who fatally shot Black neighbor sentenced to 25 years in prison
Jay-Z’s Team Roc sues Kansas City, Kansas, for records related to alleged police misconduct
Tyron McAlpin, Black deaf man beaten by Phoenix police, plans to sue city for $3.5M
Lil Scrappy, Big Freedia, Mia X, Cookie Nasty, and more artists partner with Hip Hop Caucus for a Political Rap Cypher
CHURCHY series starring Kevin “KevOnStage” Fredericks renewed for a second season
A-Trak talks Kanye & more for Okayplayer’s podcast The Almanac of Rap
KevOnStage’s “Churchy” is coming to BET+
Garrett Morris to be honored with star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame
- New Jersey prohibit bans on books in schools, public libraries
- Good Morning From Asbury Park High School: Awesome Events!
- Two indicted for 2022 Neptune Township murder
- Neptune High School Choir to sing at Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony
- Justice Department finds a pattern of misconduct by police in Trenton
-
In Memoriam2 weeks agoBeloved journalist, Robin Ayers, passes away at 44
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoFamily seeks justice for South Carolina 6th grader who survived suicide attempt
-
Crime & Justice4 weeks agoFlorida woman who fatally shot Black neighbor sentenced to 25 years in prison
-
Police3 weeks agoJay-Z’s Team Roc sues Kansas City, Kansas, for records related to alleged police misconduct
-
Police4 weeks agoTyron McAlpin, Black deaf man beaten by Phoenix police, plans to sue city for $3.5M
-
Crime & Justice4 weeks agoFundraiser started for Tuskegee University shooting victim La’Tavion Johnson
-
Crime & Justice7 days agoOhio shooting claims life of sister and brother
-
Crime & Justice1 week agoMarilyn Mosby not pardoned by Joe Biden despite efforts