News
Update: African American church shooting – Dylann Roof arrested
The suspected gunman in a shooting at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, that left nine people dead is now in custody in North Carolina, police say.
Charleston police Chief Greg Mullen said Dylann Storm Roof, 21, of Lexington, S.C., was arrested during a traffic stop late Thursday morning in Shelby, North Carolina.
Mullen said Roof was stopped after a citizen saw a vehicle that “they thought was suspicious” and alerted police. Mullen said Roof was co-operative with police when he was stopped.
Officials from Charleston are on their way to Shelby to question the suspect and collect evidence, Mullen said.
Police said they do not believe anyone else was involved.
“We will now be looking at all of the facts, all of the motivations all the things that led this individual — if he is in fact the shooter — to commit this crime,” said U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “And we will determine which is the best ways in which to prosecute the case.”
Reuters reported that Carson Cowles, the uncle of Dylann Roof, said he recognized his nephew from photos released by police. Roof also received a .45-caliber pistol from his father as a birthday present in April, Cowles said.
Roof was charged earlier this year for a drug offence and trespassing, Reuters reported, citing court documents.
An intense manhunt was launched for the shooting suspect, who police said joined a Wednesday evening prayer meeting for nearly an hour and then allegedly opened fire inside the church in downtown Charleston.
The victims include 6 females and 3 males. Mullen said the names of the victims would be released after families were notified.
