The South Carolina man accused of gunning down nine parishioners at a historically black church in Charleston has told his defense lawyers that he wants to plead guilty, NBC News reported.
However, they don't want to make the offer until authorities decide whether they will seek the death penalty.
This revelation came during Dylann Roof's arraignment Friday in federal court on 33 counts related to the June 17 massacre. Roof, 21, also faces nine counts of murder in state court. The death penalty remains a possibility in both jurisdictions, though authorities have not said whether they would seek it.
"Mr. Roof has told us he would like to plead guilty," lead defense lawyer David Bruck told U.S. Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant in Charleston. He added, "Until we know whether the government is seeking a death penalty, we will not be able to enter a plea of guilty at this time."
Marchant then entered a plea of not guilty on Roof's behalf.
Roof's tentative trial date in state court is next summer.