CHARLESTON, S.C. (WRIC) — Suspect Dylann Roof has now been in police custody for more than 24 hours. On Friday, Roof made his first court appearance and the family members of some of the victims who were gunned down inside of the Emmaunel AME Church spoke directly to the man police say did it.
Roof appeared via video link dressed in a black and white prison jumpsuit as he listened to the charges he is facing. After that, the judge asked the family of the nine victims who were in attendance if they wanted to address the court, many of them spoke right to Roof.
South Carolina law does not allow for a bond to be set for someone facing multiple murder charges, but the judge did set a bond for the firearms charge.
Regardless, Roof will remain behind bars.
After court, the prosecutor held a press conference where she said her team will be working to get justice for the community, and spoke briefly about the death penalty.
Roof is in the same housing pod as former Charleston Police Officer Michael Slager, who is awaiting trial after shooting Walter Scott earlier this year. Even though they are in the same pod, they are both in isolation.
