Uncle: Dylann Roof is 'guilty as hell' and will 'ride the lightning'


Carson Cowles, an uncle to alleged killer Dylann Roof, said Thursday his nephew is "guilty as hell" in a mass shooting at a bible study that left nine people dead.

Cowles told the Los Angeles Times in a telephone interview that his nephew would "ride the lightning" — meaning he would get the death penalty.

“He’s going to pay for what he’s done,” Cowles told the Times. I'd pull the switch myself, if they'd let me.”

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Cowles said the family was devastated.

“He’ll get no sympathy from us, any of us.”

Six women and three men died after being shot while attending a Bible study group at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church Wednesday night.

Roof, 21, was arrested early Thursday in North Carolina and was taken back to South Carolina for arraignment.

Prior to his interview with the Times, Cowles reportedly told other media outlets that Roof’s father had given him a gun for his 21st birthday in April.