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CHARLESTON, S.C., July 7 (UPI) -- Dylan Roof was indicted on nine murder charges and three attempted murder charges on Tuesday for his confessed shooting massacre at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. Roof, 21, reportedly confessed to gunning down the churchgoers near the end of a Bible study session at the church on June 17.
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He allegedly holds strong racial sentiments against black people and the AME Church is seen as a prominent part of black history.
South Carolina Sen. Clementa Pickney, 41, who was also a pastor at the church; Cynthia Hurd, 54; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Myra Thompson, 59; Ethel Lance, 70; Susie Jackson, 87; and the reverends DePayne Middleton Doctor, 49; Sharonda Singleton, 45; and Daniel Simmons Sr., 74, died in the attack.
Roof has previously been arrested twice as an adult in South Carolina, including a first-offense drug possession charge in March and a trespassing charge in April.
A website registered to the name Dylann Roof was previously discovered and contained what was referred to as a "manifesto" that discloses his motives for the shooting rampage.
The writings, purportedly by Roof, were discovered on an obscure segregationist website. It contained several photographs of the suspect holding a Confederate flag and a handgun.
The murders have reignited a nationwide discussion on racism in America. Many have called for the Confederate flag to be removed from South Carolina's state capital, Columbia. The state's Senate approved the move on Monday and the motion was sent to the House.
