By now, you have surely heard of the massacre that occurred at the historic predominantly Black Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Nine people (six female; three male), including the Emanuel AME’s pastor and prominent state senator The Rev. Clementa Pinckney were slaughtered by gunfire in this evident hate crime carried out by a young, angry White male. Charleston police have reportedly apprehended the gunman, Dylann Roof for the massacre.
It was reported that Dylann Roof arrived at the church as if he was there to attend the weekly Bible study on Wednesday evening. Somehow, Roof was able sit through an hour of listening to scriptural analysis in the midst of a welcoming congregation before pulling out a gun and killing eight people. There was a ninth that was rushed to the hospital, but did not make it. According to NBC News, Sylvia Johnson, cousin of Rev. Pinckney, “he had reloaded five different times… and he just said ‘I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go.'” Reports also indicate that Roof let one congregant live in so that they could tell the world that he did it.
Surveillance footage from the church showed clear images of Roof so that he could be identified. According to ABC News:
A citizen saw the suspect’s car and reported it to police, who responded and made the arrest, police said. Roof cooperated with the officer who stopped him, according to police.
There are sure to be reports of Dylann Roof being a troubled, mentally ill young man. There will probably be attempts by various news outlets to paint him as a human being with plenty in common with everybody else. Don’t go for that. Dylann Roof is a sick, sadistic, RACIST murderer who killed people (who welcomed him with open arms) in a church after hearing the Word of God. These actions are irredeemable and this asshole needs to receive the harshest punishment possible.