Dylann Storm Roof, the White man accused of killing nine members of an historic Black church in Charleston, S.C., last year, was attacked August 4 by a Black inmate in the Charleston County Detention Center, where the two were housed in the protective custody unit, authorities said.
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On Thursday morning, as Roof was heading to the jail showers, Stafford – a black fellow inmate – reportedly attacked him, leaving him with bruises on his face and back. The attack was broken up within seconds, and 22-year-old Roof suffered minor injuries – some bruising his face and back. Stafford was expected to be charged with assault in the third degree, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Major Eric Watson told NBC News, adding that an internal investigation has been opened.
Roof – who has been charged with 33 federal offenses – will face the death penalty for killing nine black parishioners in Charleston in June 2015. While Stafford is of the same ancestral background as the alleged victim of Roof, African descendant, race was not mentioned as the motivator for the attack.
Just like a similar incident involving Colorado movie theater mass shooter, James Holmes, the attack on Roof brought praise on Twitter with calls for donations to Stafford’s jail commissary account.
Atlanta Black Star reported the attorneys will dismiss the challenge if prosecutors would not consider the death penalty in the case. Officials also are looking into the possibility of an electronic malfunction, Cannon said.
Stafford is in jail for strong armed robbery and assault and for lying to police, Cannon said.
Roof was not seriously injured and was medically evaluated at the Cannon Detention Center after the 7:45 a.m. incident, said Maj.
“We do things day in and day out and they become routine and as a result of that (officers) become complacent.”
“I can’t speculate. There is nothing that I am aware of beyond the obvious speculation that we would all have, given the nature of the situation”.
Roof is charged with nine counts of murder in state court. The federal trial is set to begin November 7.
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Roof, 22, is facing charges for the murder of 9 and injury of several others during a mass shooting he carried out on a SC church who welcomed him with open arms.
