Charleston Church Shooter, Dylann Roof, Assaulted In Jail

Mother Emanuel Church shooter Dylann Roof was involved in an altercation in jail around 7:45 a.m. Thursday morning, WCBD reports.

According to the incident report, Dwayne Marion Stafford, 26, a fellow inmate at a Charleston County jail, escaped his room, ran down a flight of stairs, and hit Roof several times in the face and body near the showers. Roof suffered minor bruises on his face and back, according to a jail spokesperson.

Stafford was jailed in January for strong arm robbery and first-degree assault and battery. He will now face a charge of assault and battery in the third degree for Thursday’s altercation, according to WCBD.

During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the men were separated by correctional officers. “After we interviewed everyone, we would get a warrant and make charges,” the spokesperson said.

Roof and his lawyers have no desire to press charges against Stafford, according to the spokesperson. Authorities will continue to investigate how Stafford was able to escape his cell due to a faulty door lock.

Roof awaits trial for the June 2015 shooting at Emanuel AME Church, where he killed nine parishioners. He faces 33 federal counts. A South Carolina state prosecutor said she will also pursue the death penalty when his trial begins next year.

On Monday, Roof’s lawyers filed a motion contending the federal death penalty charge.

SOURCE: WCBD | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty, Twitter