After shooting, Roof went to 2nd church
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The man convicted of killing nine worshippers during Bible study at a black church in 2015 drove toward a second black parish afterward, according to federal court documents unsealed Tuesday, but no one was there because that sanctuary’s class had been canceled.
According to the documents, federal prosecutors said they had GPS evidence showing that after the fatal shootings at Charleston’s Emanuel AME church on June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof exited the interstate and drove approximately 30 miles northwest toward the Branch AME Church in Summerville. The Branch church also had a sign advertising Bible study, the prosecutors said, and Roof shut off his GPS device, which they said indicated he stopped the car.
Branch AME pastor the Rev. Rufus Berry told The Associated Press that he called off Bible study that night because he was going to be late leaving his job at a cement company. He said he was shocked when he learned through news reports that his church, which has 70 members, was a second target.
“I would hate to know what the outcome would be. I dread to even think about that,” Berry said Wednesday, moments before heading to the very Bible class that was canceled the night of the shootings. “I thank God that he had us protected” from a second attack, he said.
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