Dylann Roof Assaulted In South Carolina Jail

Another inmate reportedly punched Roof several times on his way to the shower.
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The gunman accused of killing nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, last year was attacked in jail on Thursday while on his way to the shower, authorities said.

Dylann Roof, 22, reportedly suffered several bruises but was not seriously injured in the incident at the North Charleston jail. Another inmate, Dwayne Marion Stafford, 25, ran toward Roof and punched him several times near the showers, according to officials.

Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon Jr. said in a press conference that Roof and his attorney had decided not to press charges against Stafford.

Cannon added that there was no proof that the reported attack by Stafford, who is black, was racially motivated, “beyond the obvious speculation that we would all have given the nature of the situation,” USA Today reported.

Police lead accused shooter Dylann Roof into the courthouse in Shelby, North Carolina, on June 18, 2015.
Police lead accused shooter Dylann Roof into the courthouse in Shelby, North Carolina, on June 18, 2015.
Jason Miczek/Reuters

Roof is facing the death penalty in both federal and state court, where prosecutors charged him with dozens of offenses, including murder. The deadly attack occurred during a Bible study session at Charleston’s historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015.

Court records filed by prosecutors in federal court last month said Roof used eight Glock handgun magazines and fired about 80 rounds during the massacre. The records alleged that Roof plotted the attack for months, calling the church from his home and paying a web hosting company, where he posted a manifesto online as early as February 2015.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Dwayne Stafford, who reportedly attacked Dylann Roof, 22, on his way into the shower on Aug. 4, 2016.
Dwayne Stafford, who reportedly attacked Dylann Roof, 22, on his way into the shower on Aug. 4, 2016.
Charleston County jail via ASSOCIATED PRESS

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