South Carolina church shooting case ends with 911 call

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A survivor of the Charleston church slayings called 911 after Dylann Roof opened fire and killed nine of her friends during a Bible study. Polly Sheppard’s call, played for jurors on Wednesday, starts with a prayer and a plea for help: “Please answer. Oh, God.”

When the recording ended, Sheppard staggered from the witness stand and several family members rushed to help her down the aisle and out of the courtroom as she stared blankly ahead.

Prosecutors rested their case in Roof’s federal death penalty trial and his lawyers called no witnesses after the judge ruled that mental health experts, job applications and his academic record were irrelevant to whether Roof is guilty of the attack. His attorneys have conceded there is no disputing the facts of the case and have instead tried to focus on if he should face the death penalty.

Roof is charged with hate crimes in what prosecutors said was a racially motivated attack on nine black worshippers at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Jurors will hear closing arguments today.

In her testimony, Sheppard remembered something about each of the nine victims — how the Rev. Daniel Simmons was nicknamed “Dapper Dan” because of his fine hats and shiny shoes or how the bathrooms at the church didn’t have the same shine since Ethel Lance, who kept them tidy, was killed. There was a catch in her voice each time assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Richardson asked her to identify a dead friend and fellow worshipper.

Sheppard’s 911 call was the final evidence jurors heard Wednesday.

If they find Roof guilty, jurors will return Jan. 3 to decide if he is put to death or gets life in prison.