CHARLESTON, S.C. — The man accused of gunning down nine community leaders during a Bible study session at their historic black church in Charleston, S.C., was ordered held on $1 million bond on a separate gun charge.
Dylann Roof, who also faces nine counts of murder, appeared by video from the county jail, looking somber in a striped jumpsuit and speaking only briefly in response to the judge's questions.
A police affidavit released Friday accused Roof of shooting all nine victims multiple times inside the Emanuel AME Church Wednesday night, and making a "racially inflammatory statement" as he stood over an unnamed witness.
Felecia Sanders survived the attack by pretending to be dead, but lost her son Tywanza. She spoke from the judge's courtroom, where Roof's image appeared on a television screen.
"We welcomed you Wednesday night in our Bible study with open arms. You have killed some of the most beautifulest people that I know. Every fiber in my body hurts ... and I'll never be the same," Sanders told Roof.
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"Tywanza was my hero," Sanders said, but even she showed some kindness as she confronted the man accused of killing her son: "As we said in Bible Study, we enjoyed you but may God have mercy on you."
Roof bowed his head slightly as more relatives of those killed spoke.
Roof had complained while getting drunk on vodka recently that "blacks were taking over the world" and that "someone needed to do something about it for the white race," according to Joey Meek, who tipped the FBI when he saw his friend on surveillance images.
Roof also told him he used birthday money from his parents to buy a .45 Glock pistol before the attack, Meek said. The affidavit said Roof's father and uncle also called authorities after seeing surveillance photos, and that the father said Roof owned a .45-caliber gun.
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Roof was arrested in North Carolina after an alert motorist recognized him, and returned in shackles to a county jail where he was being held next to the cell of Michael Slager, the white former police officer charged with fatally shooting black motorist Walter Scott in neighboring North Charleston.
In a statement released late Friday afternoon, Roof’s family said they too want to send their condolences to those who died in Wednesday’s massacre.
"The Roof Family would like to extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to families of the victims in Wednesday night’s shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
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"Words cannot express our shock, grief, and disbelief as to what happened that night. We are devastated and saddened by what occurred. We offer our prayers sympathy for all of those impacted by these events. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those killed this week.
"We have all been touched by the moving words from the victims’ families offering God’s forgiveness and love in the face of such horrible suffering. Our hope and prayer is for peace and healing for the families of the victims, the Charleston community, and those touched by these events throughout the state of South Carolina and our nation.
"As you can imagine, words are hard to find and we would ask that the media respect our family’s privacy at this time."
Governor wants death penalty for Roof
As Roof made his first appearance in a South Carolina courtroom, Gov. Nikki Haley said she emphatically supports the death penalty if Roof is convicted.
"Everybody feels this pain," Haley told Channel 2's Tom Jones. "I have absolutely no problem with the death penalty. In South Carolina you do something like this to nine families, you will absolutely pay the price."
Haley told Jones there is no place in South Carolina for those who target blacks.
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"That's not South Carolina. It's just not. I mean, that kind of hate is unacceptable in South Carolina. It's not appropriate in South Carolina, and we're not going to have that," Haley said.
Haley said now that Roof is in custody, it is time for the community to heal.
The governor told Jones that she is happy to see people of different races and ages praying together outside the church.
Charleston community comes together
Rev. Jimmy Gallant forged relationships with most of the nine victims in the Charleston church massacre during decades of service.
He said lives were taken -- and so was a part of the community's spirit.
"We won't allow one person to snatch away from us something that's historical, something that's been a foundation in this community," Gallant said. "We will get that back because we are a very vigilant people."
And many people who are ready to forgive as Dylann Roof moves through the justice system.
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Friday evening victims' families, city officials and thousands of people came together for a community prayer and healing vigil to cap an emotional week.
They filed in to a college arena just blocks from Emanuel AME Church, where droves of people visited an ever-growing memorial.
"It shakes me to the core. I struggled just to not break down," William Burns said.
Going forward, the justice department is looking into the shootings as a hate crime and as an act of domestic terrorism.
"One of the things that comes out of this is it reminds us that we still have a lot of work to do, particularly in race relations, and people understanding one another in the community," Gallant said.
Atlanta mourns Charleston victims
Hundreds of people marched from the Georgia Capitol to a downtown Atlanta church in honor of the Charleston shooting victims.
Friday night's service was about grieving for those impacted by the Charleston shooting.
Outside the sanctuary were security guards.
I asked if people are now afraid to come to church.
"I'm not afraid to go to church, I'm not afraid to march in the streets," said Aurielle Marie, co-founder of activist group It's Bigger Than You.
The group marched in the streets to Big Bethel AME Church and was joined by hundreds of Atlanta residents who stand in solidarity with the Charleston shooting victims.
The group worshipped and prayed for peace.
A member of Big Bethel AME lost her mother in the shooting.
Church leaders said they must remain welcoming.
"We should not feel like we have to be armed in order worship," said Khamisi Walters with Big Bethel AME Church. "They were at a time probably as close as you can be to God, then he took them home.
Outside, security guards stood at the bottom of the church steps.
Church leaders said the security guards came with the marchers and while they have security for the sanctuary, the service is about love.
"We might not like what occurred. We have to love the man even through all that he did," said Alvin Francis with Big Bethel AME Church.
Librarian remembered from Charleston to Atlanta
Charleston closed all 16 of its libraries following the shootings at the Emanuel AME Church.
Stacks of books remained in the dark Friday at the St. Andrews Regional Library, where branch manager Cynthia Hurd worked. Hurd was among the nine victims gunned down Wednesday night.
"I don't think the sheer weight of it has hit everyone yet. We're just kind of all muddling through," co-worker Shannon Duffy told Channel 2's Carl Willis.
Those who knew Hurd and worked with her are paused to remember her Friday.
Visitors have left flowers and notes for the Charleston resident who was educated at Clark Atlanta University.
"She returned home after the death of her father. I think she actually would have lived in Atlanta longer if she had the ability to," Duffy said.
Duffy moved to Charleston from Atlanta a little over a year ago and made a connection with Hurd.
"It's just so incredibly unfair and horrible the way she was executed by a heartless lunatic. It's just really horrible," Duffy said. "She was just a very positive force. She helped out everybody. She was our leader."
Back in Atlanta, Hurd's life was on the mind of everyone inside the Clark Atlanta University Auditorium where a candle light vigil was held in Hurd's honor Friday.
VIDEO: Many gather at memorial for Charleston church shooting victims
"My heart just aches," Casina Pressley-Washington told Channel 2's Matt Jones. Pressley-Washington was a sorority sister with Hurd.
"Cynthia had a contagious smile … always helpful, always a lady," Pressley-Washington said.
Mourners shared emotional hugs during Friday vigil, spreading light at time when it would be easy to be consumed by darkness.
Pressley-Washington told Johnson she could envision her sorority sister at peace even in her final moments.
"I can see Cynthia resting on her faith. 'It's my time, then it's my time … all is well with my soul,'" Pressley-Washington said.
Friends of Hurd's sang after the vigil in solidarity. Hurd joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at what was then Clark College in 1979.
"She was a jokester she enjoyed making people laugh," said sorority sister Billette Owens-Ashford.
Now her friends say they'll move on from their anger toward the alleged shooter, how Hurd would have wanted them to.
"We are going to forgive him for what he did and move forward," said sorority sister Sharron Porter.
College roommate remembers single mom killed in attack
Danita Jones answers the phone a lot as the receptionist at Berean Christian Church in Stone Mountain.
But this week, she got a call from her sister that took her breath away.
"And she's like you know Sheronda was one of the ones who was shot," Jones said.
Jones told Channel 2's Matt Belanger she was college roommates with Sharonda Coleman-Singleton.
Coleman-Singleton was among the nine killed Wednesday's mass shooting
"She was an awesome track star at South Carolina State University and we stayed in the same dorm, Williams Hall," Jones said.
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Jones showed Bellanger Coleman-Singleton's Facebook page and said that's how the two stayed in touch.
She said Coleman-Singleton was a high school speech therapist and lived in the Atlanta area for a few years after college before moving to South Carolina.
The single-mother leaves behind three children.
"Her son just graduated from high school, full scholarship to Charleston Southern playing baseball," Jones said.
Jones said she's praying for everyone affected by the tragedy, including the shooter Dylann Roof.
"That's the worst part about knowing he was there receiving the word of God, but wasn't able to receive it because he came in with a mission," Jones said.
If you would like to help after the tragedy, you can give in the following ways:
Mother Emanuel Hope Fund
The city of Charleston created the hope fund to cover funeral and burial expenses of the nine victims. Any leftover funds will go directly to Emanuel AME. Donations are not tax-deductible.
-Send a check to this address:
Mother Emanuel Hope Fund
c/o City of Charleston
Post Office Box 304
Charleston, SC 29402
-Go to any Wells Fargo Bank to make a donation.
-Text 'prayforcharleston' to 843-606-5995 or click here.
Lowcountry Ministries- Reverend Pinckney Fund
The proceeds of this fund run by the Palmetto Project will support local initiatives serving Reverend Pinckney's home church, vulnerable populations and youth projects. These donations will be tax deductible.
-Send a check to this address:
Lowcountry Ministries – Reverend Pinckney Fund
c/o The Palmetto Project
6296 Rivers Avenue #100
North Charleston, SC 29406
-Click here to donate online.
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