Listen Live
Rickey Smiley Morning Show Featured Video
CLOSE

Dylann Roof (R), the 21-year-old man charged with murdering nine worshippers at a historic black church in Charleston last month, is helped to his chair by chief public defender Ashley Pennington during a hearing at the Judicial Center in Charleston

No, you are not dreaming. Yes, you read that headline right. The Charleston Massacre killer, Dylan Roof, pleaded not guilty to 33 federal charges yesterday including hate crime and  firearms charges. As a reminder, Roof walked into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston and shot nine people. (Roof is also charged with state charges of nine counts of murder.)

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

The USA Today reports that Roof wanted to plead guilty to his crimes but his lawyer advised otherwise until it is known whether prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in this case or not. As many of us learn in adulthood and probably before then, “justice”in the system is about legalities, not righteousness.

In the report, Roof was described as appearing in a grey striped jumpsuit, and not anything to the Magistrate judge in court other than “yes” to the Magistrate judge who asked questions. The Magistrate also apparently heard from the family members of the victims. ABC news also reports that the Emanuel church’s interim pastor Norvel Goff said the following outside the court to reporters: “The process has started. This is a long journey, but we are committed to the task to make sure justice is done.”

Roof’s trial on the South Carolina state charged begins July 2016.

Emanuel AME Church’s Resilient Rise After Their Horrific Loss
28 photos
20 Pictures That Show The Powerful Resilience Of Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME Church
20 photos

Dylan Roof Pleads “Not Guilty” Over Charleston AME Church Shooting  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com