South Carolina prosecutor to announce death penalty decision in church massacre

September 3, 2015 4:51 PM

Roof, who is white, is accused of massacring the "Emanuel 9" on the night of June 17 after he had entered the church, joined their group and sat with them. The victims were black.

Suspect charged with nine counts of murder

A South Carolina prosecutor is expected to announce a decision on Thursday over whether to seek the death penalty in the June massacre of nine worshippers at a Charleston church, local media reported.

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Dylann Roof, 21, is facing charges of murdering nine members of Emanuel AME Church during Bible study.

Ninth Judicial Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson scheduled a news conference on Thursday regarding the case against Roof, without specifying what aspect she would address.

The Post and Courier newspaper reported that the state planned to pursue the death penalty, citing unnamed sources familiar with the case. Reuters was not able to independently confirm that prosecutors had reached that decision.

Among the dead was the Reverend Clementa Pinckney, the church pastor who was also a state senator.

President Barack Obama eulogized Pinckney in Charleston at a funeral attended by more than 5,000 people.