Justice Dept. seeks death penalty against Dylann Roof

WASHINGTON, May 24 (UPI) -- The man who authorities say launched a racially-motivated attack on a historically black South Carolina church a year ago, killing nine, faces two upcoming criminal trials -- both of which are now seeking to put suspect Dylann S. Roof to death.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said Tuesday that after great consideration, her Justice Department will seek the death penalty during its federal prosecution of Roof.

A federal grand jury returned a 33-count indictment against Roof last year, with authorities accusing him of committing hate crimes, weapons charges and obstructing religion.

"Following the department's rigorous review process to thoroughly consider all relevant factual and legal issues, I have determined that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty," Lynch said in a statement Tuesday. "The nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm compelled this decision."

Prosecutors outlined their reasons in seeking capital punishment in a seven-page court filing Tuesday -- claiming that Roof, an accused white supremacist, "demonstrated a lack of remorse" for the shootings, specifically targeted the church to "magnify the societal impact" of the rampage, and used "animosity towards African Americans" as a central motivation for the attack.

The trial is expected to begin next year.

South Carolina's government is also planning to try Roof on murder charges and it, too, will seek the death penalty.

There had been some speculation that state prosecutors might offer Roof, 22, a plea deal that would have lessened the possibility of a federal execution, The New York Times reported -- because it has been stated that the accused gunman wishes to take legal responsibility for the June 17 massacre.

"Roof has told us that he wishes to plead guilty," defense attorney David Bruck said last year. "Until we know whether the government will be seeking the death penalty, we are not able to advise Mr. Roof."

Nine people were killed in the attack on the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., including state Sen. Clementa Pinckney. News of the Justice Department's decision was well-received by at least some of the victims' relatives.

"Regardless of whether or not you're for the death penalty, the thought process is this: where else would you have it, if not for here?" one family attorney, Steve Schmutz, said.