Governor: Charleston suspect should get death penalty

Governor Nikki Haley attends a prayer vigil held at Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Dylann Storm Roof, the gunman, who killed nine people during a shooting spree at a Charleston church should get the death penalty, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said on Friday.

“We will absolutely want him to have the death penalty,” she told NBC .

Roof is accused of Wednesday night’s shooting during a Bible study at The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. The victims included a state Senator, who was also the church’s minister.

President Barack Obama has called the tragedy yet another example of damage caused by guns in America.

Police captured him in North Carolina after a motorist spotted him at a traffic light on her way to work. Roof was back in Charleston on Thursday night with a bond hearing pending, authorities said.

Surveillance video showed the gunman entering the church, and he initially didn’t appear threatening, Charleston County Coroner Rae Wilson said.

“The suspect entered the group and was accepted by them, as they believed that he wanted to join them in this Bible study,” she said. Then, “he became very aggressive and violent.”