1. Dylann Roof

2. Background Born in Columbia, South Carolina
Mostly raised by step-mother
His father was allegedly verbally and physically abusive toward his step-mother
Exhibited signs of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) as he grew up, obsessing over germs and insisting on having his hair cut in a certain style.
When he was in middle school, he exhibited an interest in smoking marijuana, having been caught buying in one instance.
Attended seven different schools in nine years
Repeated the ninth grade
Reportedly stopped attending classes in 2010.
Spent his time doing drugs and getting drunk.
Got a part-time job as a landscaper, quit his job prior to shooting.
When his sister planned to be married, he did not respond to her invitation to the event.
Was “intrigued” by the murder of Trayvon Martin and the 2015 Baltimore protests.

3. Criminal Background Crime Date Victim(s) Punishment
Misdemeanor charge of drug possession.
March 2, 2015
Banned from Columbiana Centre mall for a year.
Trespassing on mall grounds
April 26, 2015
Original ban extended for 3 additional years

4. Charleston Church massacre
June 17th 2015, At around 9:05 p.m.
During the hour preceding the attack, 13 people including the shooter participated in the Bible study. According to the accounts of people who talked to survivors, when the shooter walked into the historic African-American church, he immediately asked for Pinckney (Reverend at the 201 year old church) and sat down next to him, initially listening to others during the study. He started to disagree when they began discussing Scripture. Eventually, after waiting for the other participants to begin praying, he stood up and pulled a gun from a fanny pack aiming it at 87-year-old Susie Jackson. Jackson's nephew, 26-year-old Tywanza Sanders, tried to talk him down and asked him why he was attacking churchgoers. The shooter responded, "I have to do it. You rape our women and you're taking over our country. And you have to go." When he expressed his intention to shoot everyone, Sanders dove in front of Jackson and was shot first. The suspect then shot the other victims, all the while shouting racial epithets. He also reportedly said, "Y'all want something to pray about? I'll give you something to pray about.“ He reloaded his gun five times. Sanders' mother and his five-year-old niece, both attending the study, survived the shooting by pretending to be dead.

5. Evidence
Witnesses of the crime were present when he committed his attack.
Expressed hate towards races on an online website and handwritten notes
Roof had purchased the same gun as the one used in the massacre on June 10, 2015, no criminal background check was filed.
Apparently told his friends his plans to kill people days before the massacre.
Attempted to flea the crime scene.
Roof confessed to committing the Charleston attack with the intention of starting a race war

6. Sentence
On April 10, 2017, Roof was sentenced to nine life sentences after pleading guilty to state murder charges.
On January 10, 2017 however, the jury recommended the death penalty for Roof, and on January 11, 2017 Judge Gergel formally sentenced Dylann Roof to death by lethal injection.
Until April 21, 2017 Roof was located at the Charleston County Jail; on that day federal authorities took custody of him.
On Saturday April 22, 2017 Roof arrived at USP Terre Haute, the location of the federal death row for men and the federal execution chamber.

7. Quotes “I’m not crazy, I had to do this.”
“What I did is still minuscule to what they’re doing to white people every day. I do consider myself a white supremacist.”
“Yes…we all know I’m guilty.” 
“I still feel like I had to do it. Anyone who hates anything in their mind has a good reason for it.” 

8. Cultural References
E:60 story focused on the lives affected by the massacre

9. Sociological Theory of Deviance
Dylann Roof was raised in a household where he would witness physical and mental abuse. With this occurring in his upbringing, this is a sign of psychological deviance. It has been discovered that if as a child a person is abused or witnesses abuse in any form may possibly result in deviant behavior as an adult.
When Roof was younger he showed signs and was diagnosed with OCD which also may have contributed to his constant unsettling personality and behavior. Roof also shows clear signs of sociological deviance. It has been discovered that Roof had a webpage depicting images of Roof with a handgun, confederate flag, and other items such as neo-Nazi propaganda. In the months preceding the attack he expressed interest to his friends in in killing people. Roof also referred to himself as a white supremacist