Dylann Roof, who admitted he was the gunman that killed nine people at a historically black church in Charleston, S.C. on Wednesday night, was charged with nine counts of murder and a weapons offense at a hearing on Friday.
Roof was present in the courtroom via video from the jail he is being held at. Two armed guards could be seen behind Roof.
The hearing gave family members of victims their first opportunity to speak to Roof, and many forgave the 21-year-old, according to reports:
"Repent," a family member of victim Myra Thompson said, according to Buzzfeed News. "I forgive you and my family forgives you."
"My grandfather and others died at the hands of hate," the granddaughter of victim Pastor Daniel Simmons said, Business Insider reported. "Hate won't win."
"You hurt me, you hurt a lot of people," one of the victim's daughters said while crying, according to Business Insider. "But I forgive you."
At the conclusion of the bond hearing, Charleston solicitor Scarlett Wilson announced that the case is now in the prosecution phase.
There has been controversy surrounding what Roof's motive was, even though Charleston police spokesman Charles Francis said victims were killed "because they were black." Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that the shooting at Emanuel AME Church was being investigated as a hate crime on Thursday.
On Friday, the official affidavit for the case was released and, according to The Associated Press, there is evidence that the shootings were racially charged.
BREAKING: Affidavit: Charleston church gunman stood over witness, made racially inflammatory remark after shootings.
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 19, 2015
As a response to the shootings, many people have called for South Carolina to remove the confederate flag that is at the state house.
"We cannot have state a confederate flag waving in the state capital," Cornell William Brooks, president of the NAACP, said. "The flag has to come down."
In a coincidental twist, Roof is currently in a jail cell next to Michael Slager, a former South Carolina police officer who was indicted on murder charges earlier this month for shooting Walter Scott, an unarmed black man.
Charleston Police confirm Dylann Roof & Michael Slager are neighbours now. Roof in cell #1141B. Slager in #1140B pic.twitter.com/94bQcukvTH — Dianne Gallagher (@DianneG) June 19, 2015
President Obama addressed the nation on Thursday in regards to the shooting.
“At some point we as a country have to reckon with the fact that this kind of mass murder doesn’t happen in other countries,” he said.
Roof will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Oct. 23.
