A woman of deep faith and a voice that could stir the soul, Reverend Depayne Middleton-Doctor's life was a testament to her commitment to helping others. The 49-year-old African-American mother of four had a passion for education and a gift for singing that she shared generously with her community in Charleston, South Carolina. Her journey in ministry had recently led her to the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a place that had long been a cornerstone of Black life in the
city.
On the evening of June 17, 2015, Middleton-Doctor gathered with eight other members of the church for a Wednesday night Bible study. It was a routine spiritual gathering, a time for fellowship and prayer in the church basement. That sense of peace was shattered when a young white man, who had been welcomed into their study, opened fire. The attack was an act of calculated, racist violence, targeting the historic Black church. Depayne Middleton-Doctor and eight others were killed in the horrific mass shooting. The victims were all African-American.
The perpetrator, Dylann Roof, then 21, was captured the following day in Shelby, North Carolina. He had harbored a deep hatred for Black people and had chosen Mother Emanuel, as the church is affectionately known, to incite a race war. In his confession to the FBI, he admitted to the killings.
Dylann Roof faced 33 federal charges, including hate crimes. His trial brought forth harrowing testimony from the survivors, detailing the terror of that night. Despite an attempt to represent himself, he was ultimately found competent to stand trial. In December 2016, a federal jury convicted him on all counts. He was sentenced to death for his crimes and is currently on federal death row. The state of South Carolina also planned to try him, and he faced a potential death sentence in both trials.
