Friend of suspected Charleston gunman under federal investigation

CHARLESTON, S.C., Sept. 16 (UPI) -- An acquaintance of accused Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof is the focus of a federal investigation for allegedly lying to investigators and withholding information.

Joseph Meek, 21, is an acquaintance of Roof's, and police believe he may have known about the shooting at the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston before it was committed in June.

A "target letter" from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Columbia, S.C., was reportedly sent to Meek last month -- informing him of the investigation.

Several of Meek's acquaintances -- including his 19-year-old girlfriend -- have testified before a grand jury, the Charlotte Observer reported.

Withholding information from authorities and lying to investigators are felony offenses.

"I'm still reaping what he [Roof] sowed," Meek told a reporter from The State newspaper Tuesday. "I'm looked at like a criminal because of his actions."

Roof has been charged with numerous counts of murder and attempted murder in the June 17 shootings. He also faces federal hate crime charges. If convicted, he could be put to death.

Meek told The State his letter was hand-delivered by an FBI agent and that he was severely shaken up to receive word he was under federal investigation.

"I kind of broke down on the front porch in front of him," he said.

Nine people were killed at the historic black church, including a South Carolina state representative who was also a pastor at the church. Investigators believe Roof planned the attack to instigate a race war between white and black people in the United States.

Roof has pleaded not guilty to the charges.