Thursday, March 28, 2024

Dylann Roof’s Bond Set at $1M; Victims’ Families Express Forgiveness (Video)

dylann roof bond hearing courtroom

*Bond was set at $1 million for Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old white man charged with nine counts of murder in the shooting spree of historically black Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston.

Roof appeared in court Friday afternoon via video conference. Some of the family members representing the nine victims were permitted to speak directly to Roof from the courtroom – and all expressed levels of forgiveness for the alleged shooter.

A daughter of victim Ethel Lance told Roof, “I will never talk to her ever again, never be able to hold her again. I forgive you and have mercy on your soul. You hurt me, you hurt a lot of people, but I forgive you.”

Felicia Sanders, the mother of victim Tywanza Sanders, told Roof, “Every fiber in my body hurts, and I will never be the same . May God have mercy on you.”

Facing nine counts of murder and a weapons charge, Roof showed no emotion on the video screen, which was to the right of Magistrate James Gosnell Jr.

The judge asked Roof whether he understood the charges against him, noting that his next two hearings would take place on Oct. 23 and Feb. 5.

Roof, dressed in striped inmates’ garb and flanked by two officers, looked into the camera and said, “Yes, thank you, sir.”

Roof’s bond was set at $1 million for the weapons charge, though he wasn’t allowed bond on the other charges.

Prior to the hearing, a spokesman with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office told The Huffington Post that Roof is on suicide watch and that his family won’t be able to visit him for his first 72 hours in jail. But he said that as far as he knew, Roof’s family hasn’t yet tried to contact the suspect.

Watch the bond hearing and statements from family members of the victims below:

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