Crime | Dylann Roof Dylann Roof's Family: We're Stunned 'Words cannot express our shock' By Newser Editors Posted Jun 19, 2015 4:42 PM CDT Copied Dylann Roof appears via video before a judge in Charleston, S.C., on Friday. (Centralized Bond Hearing Court, of Charleston, S.C. via AP) Count Dylann Roof's family among those who can't comprehend the allegations that he murdered nine black people in a Charleston church. "Words cannot express our shock, grief, and disbelief as to what happened that night," says a statement from the family issued through Roof's public defender, reports WYFF. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those killed this week." In court today, relatives of the victims said they forgave Roof, and the family took note of it. “We have all been touched by the moving words from the victim’s families offering God’s forgiveness and love in the face of such horrible suffering," says the statement, which asks for privacy. Read These Next Sienna proves herself to be a very, very good dog. Three hikers jumped into a waterfall and never resurfaced. America has lost a '60s teen idol. Millions of student loan borrowers could see their paychecks docked. Report an error