Latest on Church Shooting: Police: Gunman Made Racial Remark

Latest on South Carolina Church Shootings

The chief prosecutor in Charleston County wants to talk to the families and review the evidence before making any decision on whether to seek the death penalty against a man charged with killing nine people at a Bible study inside a Charleston church.

Solicitor Scarlett Wilson spoke to reporters but took no questions Friday.

She says her office is working hand-in-hand with federal prosecutors, who are reviewing whether or not the shooting fits the federal definition of a hate crime.

The crime fits at least one of the reasons prosecutors can seek the death penalty in South Carolina _ multiple people were killed in the same act.

But Wilson says she always talks to families of victims before deciding whether to seek death. 

4 p.m.

Newly released police documents say the white man accused of killing nine people inside a black church stood over a witness and made a racially inflammatory remark.

Affidavits released Friday say 21-year-old Dylann Roof began shooting about an hour after he entered the Bible study at the church.

It says he shot all nine victims multiple times, and that he stood over a witness and made the racial remark after the shooting.

The affidavits say Roof walked into the church around 8:06 p.m. Wednesday wearing a fanny pack, and that he walked out about an hour later holding a handgun.

The documents also say that Roof’s father and uncle called authorities after seeing surveillance photos of him publicized.

Roof’s father told investigators his son owned a .45-caliber handgun, the affidavits say.

3:15 p.m.

The sister of one of the women killed inside a black church in Charleston says she is “very angry,” but that her sister taught her that “we are the family that love built.”

Bethane Middleton-Brown spoke Friday during a hearing for 21-year-old Dylann Roof, who is accused of killing nine people inside the church and faces nine counts of murder.

Gov. Nikki Haley has called for him to face the death penalty.

Middleton-Brown’s sister, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, was among the dead.

She says her family has no room for hate and that they have to forgive.

However, she also told Roof: “I also thank God I won’t be around when your judgment day comes with him.” ___

3:05 p.m.

The woman who survived a shooting massacre at a historic black church in Charleston by playing dead even as her son was killed told the suspect that their Bible study welcomed him with open arms, but now she’ll never be the same.

Felecia Sanders is the mother of Tywanza Sanders, who was one of the nine killed in Wednesday’s shooting.

At Friday’s bond hearing for 21-year-old Dylann Roof, she told him from as he appeared via video link at jail: “You have killed some of the most beautifulest people that I know. Every fiber in my body hurts.” She also said: “Tywanza Sanders was my son, but Tywanza was my hero.”

According to a woman who spoke with her, Felecia Sanders has said she survived by playing dead as she lay on top of her granddaughter to protect her.
  
3 p.m.

The husband of one of the women shot and killed at a historic black church in Charleston says he forgives the man accused of slaying her and eight others.

Anthony Thompson said during a court hearing Friday for the suspect, Dylann Roof, that he and his family forgive him.

He asked the 21-year-old Roof to repent and confess, and to give his life to Christ.

He says “do that and you’ll be better off than you are right now.”

Roof did not appear to react as the families gave their statements.

He is charged with nine counts of murder, and Gov. Nikki Haley has called for him to face the death penalty.