CHARLESTON, S.C., July 31 (UPI) -- Dylann Roof pleaded not guilty Friday to 33 federal charges stemming from the deadly shooting of nine people at a Charleston church, though his lawyers said he wanted to plead guilty.
Though he wanted to plead guilty to the charges -- which include hate crimes counts -- his lawyers said they couldn't advise him to do so until they knew whether prosecutors intended to seek the death penalty, The (Charleston) Post and Courier reported. Because of this, the magistrate entered not guilty pleas for Roof.