Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof found guilty of federal hate crimes in South Carolina massacre

A federal jury has convicted Dylann Roof in the racially motivated slayings of nine black church members in South Carolina.

The jury of nine white people and three black people deliberated less than two hours before returning a verdict. They convicted the 22-year-old white man of hate crimes, obstruction of religion and weapons charges.

The same jury will reconvene next month to decide whether Roof should get the death penalty or be sentenced to life in prison.

Roof asked US District Judge Richard Gergel, who presided over the trial, if he could represent himself in the penalty phase.

Gergel approved his request, noting that "it is a decision you have the right to make." He called it calling "strategically unwise," however.

Roof is slated to face another death penalty trial in state court early next year.

Roof was deemed mentally competent to stand trial late last month. He just stared ahead as the verdict was read, much as he has throughout the trial.

Roof, who was found guilty of all 33 federal charges, was an avowed racist at the time of the attack. A disturbing website registered to Roof - with a racist manifesto and dozens of photos of his posing with guns and the Confederate battle flag - was found shortly after the massacre occurred.

He confessed to law-enforcement officials shortly after he was arrested that he ultimately decided he "had to go through with his mission."

Roof told FBI agents he killed about five people, and was later surprised when the agents told him nine people were shot and killed in June 2015 at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church.

Jurors heard from witnesses who testified Roof made multiple trips to Charleston in the months before the June 2015 attack at Emanuel AME Church. They also heard from two survivors. Roof's attorneys called no witnesses.

Prosecutors said in their closing arguments Roof was filled with hate and has already confessed to the FBI to his role in the shootings. Defense attorneys portrayed Roof as a suicidal loner who never fully grasped the severity of what he has done.