The white, 21-year-old man suspected of gunning down nine people at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina has reportedly confessed to carrying out the attack.
CNN on Friday morning cited two anonymous law enforcement officials who said Dylann Roof confessed to the nine killings and told investigators he wanted to start a race war. Roof himself purchased the .45-caliber handgun he allegedly used in the attack in April at a Charleston gun shop, the officials told CNN.
A man identifying himself as Roof’s uncle, Carson Cowles, told Reuters on Thursday that he believed Roof’s father had bought him a .45-caliber handgun as a birthday gift.
NBC News’ Craig Melvin also cited anonymous sources who said Roof confessed to the crime. Those sources told NBC News that Roof nearly abandoned his plan because the churchgoers were “so nice to him”:
Sources tell me 21yo suspect (name deliberately not used) has confessed to the nine murders in #Charleston.
— Craig Melvin (@craigmelvin) June 19, 2015
Sources:suspect told police cops “he almost didn’t go through with it bc everyone was so nice to him” #CharlestionShooting
— Craig Melvin (@craigmelvin) June 19, 2015
