Official: Dozens of federal charges for accused church shooter

Dylann Roof, mugshot



COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A federal law enforcement official say the man accused of slaying nine black church members in Charleston last month has been indicted on dozens of federal charges.

The official told The Associated Press on Wednesday that a federal grand jury had indicted 21-year-old Dylann Roof on 33 federal charges. The source, who has seen the indictment, spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

Federal charges have been expected since Roof was arrested following the June 17 shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston. Roof, who is white, appeared in photos waving Confederate flags and burning or desecrating U.S. flags, and purportedly wrote of fomenting racial violence.

Prosecutors haven't said if they'll seek the death penalty against Roof on state charges including nine counts of murder.