Church Members Join Relatives in Grief, Anger at Gunman

The Rev. Eric Manning, pastor at Emanuel AME, leaves the Federal Court House after the death sentence hearing for Dylann Roof on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 in Charleston, S.C. Leroy Burnell/The Post And Courier via AP

CHARLESTON, S.C.—It wasn’t just the family members of the nine people Dylann Roof killed in a Charleston, South Carolina, church who suffered. Their church family grieved too.

Along with the 32 family members of victims, three people connected to Emanuel AME Church spoke as Roof was formally sentenced to death Wednesday in federal court.

“When you have attended nine wakes and nine funerals, it is heartbreaking,” said Ruby Martin, the most senior member of the church who admitted it took her several weeks after the 2015 shootings before she could go back.

There were laughter and tears; love and hate; anger and forgiveness; despair and hope at Wednesday’s hearing. Some shouted at Roof, wishing him to be condemned to hell. Others offered forgiveness and one said she would visit him in prison as he awaits execution for the slaughter.

Rose Simmons, the daughter of Rev. Daniel Simmons, Sr., poses with a photograph of her father outside of U.S. District Court in Charleston, S.C., Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, hours after Judge Richard Gergel formally confirmed jurors on Tuesday sentenced Dylann Roof to death. AP Photo/Alex Sanz