Prosecutor mulling death penalty to discuss church slayings

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina prosecutor considering whether to pursue the death penalty for a white man charged with killing nine black churchgoers is planning to hold a news conference on the case Thursday afternoon.

In a news release, Solicitor Scarlett Wilson’s office said she would address the media at 2:45 p.m. Thursday at her office regarding the state case against Dylann Roof.

Wilson’s office did not specify the subject of the news conference and said that no other information would be released in advance.

Wilson has yet to say publicly if she will pursue the death penalty against Roof, 21. He faces multiple state charges, including nine murder counts in the June 17 slayings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Roof also faces federal charges including hate crimes and obstruction of the practice of religion, some of which are also eligible for the death penalty in that system.

His attorneys in that case have said that their client wants to plead guilty but that they can’t advise him in that regard until they know if federal prosecutors will pursue the death penalty.

Roof is next expected in court in October.