Authorities are exploring pressing charges against associates of suspected Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof, a report by The State suggests.
Unnamed sources tell The State that the investigation has been widened to include Roof’s possible associates, who may have known the alleged shooter was planning the June 17 attack, which left nine African Americans dead at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.
From the report:
Although it appears Roof traveled alone to and from Charleston on the day of the killings, it is possible others had some knowledge of what he planned to carry out, said the sources, who are not being identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation.
Investigators began to explore how much Roof’s associates knew, and when they knew it, after reviewing his cellphone and computer records, the sources said.
Investigators are also weighing what charges they could bring across any suspected associates, according to The State report, which could include misprision of a felony—which refers to not informing a law enforcement officer when one has knowledge someone may commit a crime—or lying to a federal law enforcement officer.
When The State inquired about Roof’s case, U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said, “As the Attorney General (Loretta Lynch) said, ‘We have opened a file on this and are continuing to investigate this tragedy.’”
He did not elaborate any further.
