DOJ reaches settlement with families of Charleston church massacre victims

The Department of Justice has reached an $88 million settlement with the families of the victims of the Charleston Church Massacre, 6 years after Dylan Roof murdered 9 innocent parishoners during bible study at Mother Emmanuel AME. A lawsuit was filed against federal agencies alledging they failed to prevent convicted shooter Roof from buying a gun.

Attorney Bakari Sellers, announced the settlement at a press conference Thursday, saying it is "one of the largest settlements of a collection of civil rights cases in this country's history."

The pay out amounts were divided between the deceased, their living relatives and others who survived the shooting. For the deceased the settlements range from $6 million to $7.5 million per claim. Survivors are to receive $5 million per claim, the Justice Department says.

Attorney Andy Savage, a representative of some of the survivors shared in a statement to NPR that money alone is not enough to repay the losses:

"The funds made available to these families will help accommodate their material needs, but the depth of their loss of cherished loved ones, and the continued mental anguish caused by their vivid memories of helplessly watching the racist slaughter of family and friends, cannot be assuaged by money alone.

"It is their hope that their experience will help to focus those in leadership positions on the plight of the daily trauma suffered by an untold number of victims of gun violence. To do nothing is to continue to accept racial violence and wanton massacres as an integral part of the American experience.

"Today, these families express heartfelt gratitude to so many individuals whose spiritual guidance, prayers, and acts of kindness have helped them through this tragedy. They now add our government to that list."

In 2017 Roof became the frist person in the United States to receive the death penalty for a hate crime.